Egypt's trade deficit rose to $4.40 billion in June 2025, up 23.4 per cent from $3.56 billion in the same month last year, according to data released on Thursday by the Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS). Exports increased by 4.7 per cent to $3.50 billion in June 2025, compared with $3.34 billion in the same month a year earlier, supported by higher shipments of petroleum products (14.6 per cent), ready-made garments, fresh fruits, and food preparations. Meanwhile, exports of iron and steel bars and wires fell 11.7 per cent, fertilisers dropped 67.9 per cent, pulses declined two per cent, and flat-rolled steel products decreased 22 per cent, according to the statistics agency's report. Imports climbed 14.4 per cent to $7.90 billion in June 2025, compared with $6.91 billion in June 2024, driven by higher purchases of petroleum products (36.4 per cent), natural gas (53.5 per cent), passenger cars (71 per cent), and maize (24.6 per cent). By contrast, imports of raw iron and steel fell three per cent in June 2025, wheat declined six per cent, primary plastics dropped 16.4 per cent, and organic and inorganic chemicals fell 23 per cent, the report showed. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English Subediting: M.S.Salama
