How to Import from Egypt: A 2026 Buyer's Guide to Egyptian Suppliers

Egypt shipped about $48.6 billion of non-oil exports in 2025, up 17% on the year before, and its biggest customers were the UAE, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Italy and the United States¹. For buyers, that means a deep and growing supplier base on Europe's doorstep, with short shipping times to the Gulf and Africa as well.

This guide walks you through sourcing from Egypt the right way: what to buy, how to cut your duties, how to check a supplier, and how to structure the deal. Every figure links to its source at the end of the article.

What Egypt exports

Egypt's export base is broader than most buyers expect. The largest sectors in 2025 were¹:

The momentum continued in 2026:

• Processed food hit a record $4.5 billion in January–July 2026 (+10.7%). Frozen strawberries led at $558 million, followed by soft-drink concentrates, edible oils and chocolate².
• Chemicals and fertilizers reached $7.07 billion in the same period (+25%), with the EU the largest market⁴.
• Fresh produce: Egypt exported more than 2.2 million tons of citrus in 2025 and has been the world's largest orange exporter for six consecutive years. Total agricultural exports passed $11.5 billion³.

Use Egypt's trade agreements to cut your duties

Egypt's network of trade agreements is one of the strongest reasons to source there. Egypt has agreements with the European Union, the Arab world (GAFTA), COMESA, the African Continental Free Trade Area, EFTA, Turkey, MERCOSUR, and the Agadir group (Morocco, Tunisia, Jordan)⁵. Under the EU Association Agreement, Egyptian products enter the EU duty-free⁵.

To claim preferential duty, you need valid proof of origin: an EUR.1 or EUR-MED certificate, or an origin declaration on the invoice from an Egyptian approved exporter⁹. Ask for it before shipment, not after the goods arrive.

What to check before you order

1. The exporter's registration. In Egypt, only companies listed in the official exporters register kept by the General Organization for Export and Import Control (GOEIC) may export, and registration is renewed every five years⁶. Ask for a copy of the exporter card and the commercial register extract.

2. Product certificates. Ask early, because some take months to obtain:

• Fresh produce: a registered farm with a traceability code, GlobalG.A.P. certification for European buyers, and a phytosanitary certificate issued by Egypt's plant quarantine authority for each shipment⁷.
• Processed food: food-safety certification such as ISO 22000 or HACCP, plus Halal certification if your market requires it.
• Industrial goods: the conformity marks your own market requires (for example CE in the EU).

3. Capacity and seasonality. Confirm the monthly capacity, the minimum order quantity (MOQ), and for fresh produce the exact harvest window of the variety you want.

4. A sample or a site visit. For a first order, a paid pre-shipment sample or a third-party inspection costs little compared with a rejected container.

Agree on price, delivery and payment

Incoterms define who pays for freight and insurance and when the risk passes to you⁸. The most common terms for Egyptian exports are:

Payment terms depend on trust. A letter of credit protects both sides on a first order, documentary collection is cheaper once you know each other, and open account is usually kept for long-standing relationships.

Logistics in brief

Egypt's main export gateways are the Mediterranean ports of Alexandria, Damietta and Port Said, and Ain Sokhna on the Red Sea for the Gulf, Asia and East Africa. Ask your supplier for the nearest port to the factory or packhouse when you compare FOB prices.

Find verified Egyptian suppliers on Egypt Rise

Egypt Rise is a bilingual B2B platform where Egyptian factories, farms, packhouses, fish farms and other producers publish their products with HS codes, MOQ, capacity, certificates and Incoterms. You contact suppliers directly, with no commission.

• Browse the Egyptian export catalog
• Explore producers by type and governorate
• Watch the importer guide videos

Frequently asked questions

Is it safe to import from Egypt?

Yes, with the same checks you would apply anywhere: confirm the supplier is in the official exporters register⁶, ask for the certificates your market requires, and use a letter of credit or inspection for a first order.

Do Egyptian products enter the EU duty-free?

Under the EU–Egypt Association Agreement, Egyptian products have duty-free access to the EU, provided the shipment carries valid proof of Egyptian origin⁵⁹.

What are Egypt's top exports?

In 2025 the largest non-oil sectors were building materials, chemicals and fertilizers, food industries, and engineering and electronics. Egypt is also the world's largest orange exporter¹³.

Which Incoterm should I use for my first order?

FOB is the most common choice if you have a freight forwarder. CIF is simpler if you want the supplier to arrange the shipment to your port⁸.

---

This article is general guidance, not legal or customs advice. Rules and duty rates change, so confirm the details with your customs broker before you order.