Egypt's non-petroleum exports rose by 12 percent in 2017, according to a report by the trade ministry's General Organisation for Export and Import Control (GOEIC). Exports recorded $20.5 billion in 2017, MENA reported, adding that fertilisers and chemical exports grew by 32 percent to $4.4 billion. Meanwhile, ready-made clothes exports surged by 13 percent and engineering and electronic goods exports rose by 11 percent, the report indicated. Construction materials exports increased by 3 percent in 2017 to $5.088 billion, the report noted. Egypt's Industry and Trade Minister Tarek Qabil last said that the country's trade deficit declined 26 percent year-on-year to $12 billion during the first 11 months of 2017. Egyptian exports rose by 10. percent to $20.4 billion in the 11-month period, compared to $18.4 billion in the prior year period, Qabil further added. Source: MENA