Cairo: Egypt’s trade balance recorded a deficit of $3.42 billion in January 2025, slightly lower than the $3.44 billion recorded in the same month of 2024, marking a 0.58 percent decrease, according to the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS).

According to State Information Service Egypt, exports rose by 20.1 percent to $4.36 billion in January 2025, compared to $3.63 billion in January 2024. The increase was supported by higher export values of key goods including ready-made garments, which rose by 15.0 percent, pasta and various food preparations by 31.0 percent, iron bars, rods and wires by 24.7 percent, and dry pulses by 15.6 percent. Conversely, the value of exports declined for some products such as fresh fruits, which fell by 0.2 percent, petroleum products by 12.9 percent, fertilizers by 25.0 percent, and primary forms of plastics by 16.0 percent.

Imports increased by 10.1 percent to $7.78 billion in January 2025, up from $7.07 billion a year earlier. This was driven by a surge in imports of natural gas, which jumped by 145.5 percent, wheat by 22.5 percent, organic and inorganic chemicals by 13.3 percent, and primary forms of plastics by 3.1 percent. Meanwhile, the value of imports declined for several items, including petroleum products, down 13.0 percent, raw materials of iron or steel by 10.7 percent, pharmaceuticals by 0.1 percent, and passenger cars by 33.7 percent.