Egypt's exports to the European Union rose 7.4 per cent to $8.7 billion in the first eight months of 2025, compared with $8.1 billion a year earlier, according to data released Wednesday by the country's statistics agency CAPMAS. The announcement came as President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi leads Egypt's delegation to the first-ever EU–Egypt Summit in Brussels, which the government says marks the culmination of a comprehensive strategic partnership launched in March 2024. CAPMAS data showed that Italy was Egypt's largest trading partner within the EU, importing $2.6 billion worth of goods between January and August, followed by Spain ($908.9 million), Germany ($772.7 million), the Netherlands ($736.2 million) and France ($664.6 million). Other key importers included Greece ($492.8 million), Romania ($348.6 million), Belgium ($315.1 million), Poland ($310.7 million) and Slovenia ($267.7 million). Leading export categories included mineral fuels and oils ($1.7 billion), fruits and vegetables ($1.2 billion), electrical machinery and equipment ($917.9 million), fertilisers ($813.8 million), plastics ($612.6 million), ready-made garments ($558.2 million), and aluminum ($430.9 million). Egypt's imports from the EU totalled $12.7 billion in the same period, down from $13.7 billion a year earlier. Germany was the top exporter to Egypt with $2.9 billion, followed by Italy ($1.9 billion), and France ($1.2 billion). Other key exporters included Spain ($1.1 billion), Sweden ($806.2 million), Netherlands ($680.7 million), Belgium ($646.5 million), Finland ($371.4 million), and Ireland ($324.3 million). Egypt's main imports from the EU between January and August 2025 were machinery, electrical equipment and parts, worth $2.4 billion, followed by vehicles, tractors and motorcycles at $1.7 billion, according to CAPMAS data. Other top import categories included pharmaceuticals ($1.2 billion), mineral fuels and oils ($1 billion), iron and steel products ($794.2 million), wood and charcoal ($461.9 million), plastics ($428.2 million), and paper and pulp products ($398.6 million). Total Egypt–EU trade volume stood at $21.4 billion from January to August 2025, slightly below $21.8 billion a year earlier. EU investments in Egypt amounted to $5.1 billion in the 2023/24 fiscal year, down from $6.8 billion the previous year, while Egyptian investments in EU countries reached $4.4 billion. Remittances from Egyptians working in EU countries climbed to $721.6 million in the 2023/24 fiscal year from $651.9 million the year before, CAPMAS added. The trade data was released as Egypt and the EU convene their first summit, which includes an economic forum aimed at attracting new European investment into the Egyptian market. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English Download