Egypt-China trade rises 21.5% to $11.3 billion in H1 2026

Bilateral trade between Egypt and China rose 21.5 percent year-on-year to $11.3 billion during the first half of 2026, according to data from Egypt’s Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS).

Egyptian exports to China experienced a significant surge of nearly 200 percent, reaching $840.8 million compared to $280.5 million in the same period in 2025. Leading export categories included mineral fuels, oils, and distillation products at $494 million, followed by vegetables and fruits at $150.6 million, and cotton and vegetable textile fibers at $76.4 million.

Conversely, Egyptian imports from China grew by 14.3 percent to $10.4 billion. The primary imports were electrical and mechanical machinery and equipment, valued at $4.1 billion, followed by vehicles, tractors, and motorcycles at $1.2 billion. Despite the rapid growth in exports, a substantial trade deficit remains, with the trade gap reaching approximately $9.6 billion for the first half of the year.

These economic developments coincide with an official visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Egypt to meet with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, as both nations seek to deepen their strategic and economic partnerships.