Egypt Trade Deficit Widens 53.9% to $8.04 Billion in July 2026

Egypt's trade deficit expanded significantly in July 2026, rising 53.95% year-over-year to $8.04 billion compared to $5.2 billion in July 2025. The widening gap was largely driven by a substantial increase in the nation's import bill, which grew much faster than foreign sales of Egyptian goods.

Total imports climbed 31.13% year-over-year to $11.97 billion in July 2026, up from $9 billion a year earlier. In contrast, Egyptian exports experienced minimal growth during the same period, ticking up just 0.58% to $3.93 billion from $3.7 billion in July 2025. The widening trade deficit highlights ongoing pressure on Egypt's foreign trade balance as demand for foreign goods outstrips export performance.

The July figures mark a continuation of elevated trade deficits for the country. In June 2026, Egypt recorded a 58.5% year-over-year increase in its trade deficit, reaching $7.5 billion compared to $4.7 billion in June 2025. Observers will monitor upcoming monthly trade bulletins to see whether export growth can gain momentum to help narrow the expanding foreign trade imbalance.