A Mediterranean country that connects Africa’s northeast corner with Asia’s southwest corner via the Sinai Peninsula’s land bridge, the Arab Republic of Egypt imported US$94.7 billion worth of product in 2024.

That dollar amount results from a 34.4% increase from $70.4 billion five years earlier in 2020.

From 2023 to 2024, the total cost of Egyptian purchases of imported goods accelerated 13.9% compared to $83.2 billion starting from 2023.

Based on the average exchange rate for 2024, Egypt uses the Egyptian pound which depreciated by -30.3% against the US dollar from 2023 to 2024. The weaker local currency in 2024 made Egypt’s imports paid for in stronger US dollars in 2024 relatively more expensive than in 2023 when converted starting from Egyptian pounds.

Domestically, the inflation rate for Egypt’s average consumer prices was 33.302% in 2024–higher than the average 24.392% for 2023.

Best Egyptian Imports Suppliers

The latest available country-specific data shows that 53% of products imported into Egypt was supplied by exporters in: mainland China (16.4% of the Egyptian total), Saudi Arabia (7.2%), United States of America (5.9%), Russia (3.8%), Germany (3.6%), Brazil (2.87%), Türkiye (2.86%), India (2.75%), Italy (2.2%), Israel (1.9%), United Arab Emirates (1.8%) and Ukraine (1.7%).

From a continental perspective, almost half (48.6%) of Egypt’s total imports by value was purchased from suppliers in Asian countries. Trade partners based in Europe provided another 34.5% worth of overall imports purchased by Egypt.

Smaller percentages came from exporters in North America (8.7%), Latin America (5.4%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, Africa (2.2%), and Oceania (0.7%) mostly those in Australia and New Zealand.

Given Egypt’s population of 107.3 million people, its total $94.7 billion in 2024 imports translates to roughly $900 in average yearly product demand from every person in the northeast African country. That dollar statistic exceeds the average $800 per capita worth of imports in 2023.

Egypt’s Top 10 Imports

The following product groups represent the highest dollar value in Egypt’s import purchases during 2024. Also shown is the percentage share each product category represents in terms of overall imports into Egypt.

1. Mineral fuels including oil: US$17 billion (17.9% of total imports)
2. Machinery including computers: $7.2 billion (7.6%)
3. Cereals: $6.8 billion (7.2%)
4. Electrical machinery, equipment: $6.2 billion (6.6%)
5. Iron, steel: $5.2 billion (5.5%)
6. Vehicles: $4.9 billion (5.2%)
7. Plastics, plastic articles: $4.5 billion (4.8%)
8. Pharmaceuticals: $3.5 billion (3.7%)
9. Organic chemicals: $2.6 billion (2.8%)
10. Animal/vegetable fats, oils, waxes: $2.3 billion (2.5%)

Egypt’s top 10 imports approached two-thirds (63.7%) of the overall value of its product purchases from other countries.

Vehicles represent the fastest-growing import product category for Egypt thanks to a 37.5% advance from 2023.

That category outpaced imports of mineral fuels including oil (up 34.4% from 2023), iron and steel (up 22.3%) then electrical machinery and equipment (up 22.4%).

The year-over-year decliners were Egyptian imports of animal or vegetable fats, oils and waxes (down -6.5% from 2023) then pharmaceuticals (down -2.7%).

Please note that the results listed above are at the 2-digit Harmonized Tariff System (HTS) code level.

Information presented below is from the more granular 4-digit HTS code perspective.

Applying the more detailed codes, Egypt spent the most on imported processed petroleum oils (9.8% of the Egyptian total), petroleum gases (6.5%), wheat (4.7%), medication mixes in dosage (3.2%), cars (3.1%), corn (2.4%), soya beans (2.1%), iron ores and concentrates (1.8%), iron or steel scrap (1.7%) then refined copper and unwrought alloys (1.3%).

Egypt’s Most Valuable Imported Mineral Fuels Including Oil

In 2024, Egyptian importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of mineral fuels-related goods.

1. Processed petroleum oils: US$9.2 billion (up 43.3% from 2023)
2. Petroleum gases: $6.1 billion (up 84.6%)
3. Crude oil: $825.2 million (down -56.7%)
4. Coal, solid fuels made from coal: $611.5 million (up 4.2%)
5. Petroleum oil residues: $74.2 million (down -67.4%)
6. Coal tar oils (high temperature distillation): $24.6 million (down -9.5%)
7. Coke, semi-coke: $23.9 million (down -68.4%)
8. Tar pitch, coke: $19 million (up 20.3%)
9. Petroleum jelly, mineral waxes: $13.9 million (up 10.2%)
10. Peat: $4.1 million (down -49.2%)

Among these import subcategories, Egyptian purchases of petroleum gases (up 84.6%), processed petroleum oils (up 43.3%) then tar pitch and coke (up 20.3%) grew at the fastest pace from 2023 to 2024.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported mineral fuels-related goods among Egyptian businesses and consumers.

Egypt’s Most Valuable Imported Machinery Including Computers

In 2024, Egyptian importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of machinery including computers.

1. Taps, valves, similar appliances: US$445.2 million (up 0.8% from 2023)
2. Miscellaneous machinery: $398.7 million (down -3.4%)
3. Air or vacuum pumps: $380.5 million (up 9.1%)
4. Refrigerators, freezers: $379 million (up 28.7%)
5. Centrifuges, filters and purifiers: $363.8 million (down -0.4%)
6. Computers, optical readers: $360.4 million (down -0.7%)
7. Connector/insulating parts: $314.3 million (up 15.9%)
8. Liquid pumps and elevators: $309.7 million (down -20.8%)
9. Dishwashing, clean/dry/fill machines: $221.1 million (up 56.6%)
10. Pneumatic hand tools: $205.3 million (up 427.9%)

Among these import subcategories, Egyptian purchases of pneumatic hand tools (up 427.9%), dishwashing, cleaning, drying and filling machines (up 56.6%) then refrigerators and freezers (up 28.7%) grew at the fastest pace from 2023 to 2024.

These amounts and the percentage gain within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported machinery including computers among Egyptian businesses and consumers.

Egypt’s Most Valuable Imported Cereals

In 2024, Egyptian importers spent the most on the following subcategories of cereals.

1. Wheat: US$4.4 billion (up 17.7% from 2023)
2. Corn: $2.3 billion (down -7.5%)
3. Rice: $101.6 million (down -26.8%)
4. Grain sorghum $2.8 million (up 37.7%)
5. Buckwheat, millet, canary seed: $1.9 million (up 6.3%)
6. Barley $705,000 (down -93.5%)
7. Oats: $35,000 (down -49.3%)

Among these import subcategories, Egyptian purchases of sorghum grain (up 37.7%), wheat (up 17.7%) then buckwheat, millet and canary seed (up 6.3%) grew from 2023 to 2024.

These amounts and the percentage gain within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported cereals among Egyptian businesses and consumers.

Egypt’s Most Valuable Electronics Imports

In 2024, Egyptian importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of electronics including consumer items.

1. Phone devices including smartphones: US$1.2 billion (up 2.9% from 2023)
2. Flat panel displays: $740.3 million (up 44.3%)
3. Insulated wire/cable: $507.2 million (up 47.6%)
4. Electrical converters/power units: $493.7 million (up 41.8%)
5. Electric generating sets, converters: $346.1 million (up 24.3%)
6. Electrical/optical circuit boards, panels: $300.1 million (up 29.2%)
7. Lower-voltage switches, fuses: $296.1 million (up 18.3%)
8. Solar power diodes/semi-conductors: $215.5 million (up 3.6%)
9. Electric motors, generators: $211 million (up 8.9%)
10. Electric storage batteries: $200.4 million (up 50.4%)

Among these import subcategories, Egyptian purchases of electric storage batteries (up 50.4%), insulated wire and cable (up 47.6%) then flat panel displays (up 44.3%) grew at the fastest pace from 2023 to 2024.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of electronics-related imports among Egyptian businesses and consumers.

See also Egypt’s Top 10 Exports, Uganda’s Top 10 Exports, Somalia’s Top 10 Exports, Turkey’s Top Trading Partners and India’s Top Trading Partners

Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook report on South Asia: Sri Lanka. Accessed on August 14, 2025

International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database (GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity). Accessed on August 14, 2025

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on August 14, 2025

Wikipedia, Egypt. Accessed on August 14, 2025