Egyptian exports to Nile basin countries have surged in 2013 by 15%, registering EGP 7.22bn, Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) stated in its latest report. In 2012, exports to the same countries stood at EGP 6.28bn. Imports from the Nile basin, however, decreased by 0.4% from EGP 2.97bn to EGP 2.96. Highest importer from Egypt was Sudan with the value of Egyptian exports to Sudan reaching EGP 2.91bn. The report pointed out that the most important items exported to Sudan were iron and plastics. Kenya was the second largest importer from Egypt with the total value of its Egyptian exports totaling EGP 1.77bn. "The most important items that had been exported to Kenya were sugar and sugar confectionery, paper, paper crafts," CAPMAS said. Discussing Egypt's imports, the report mentioned that the country mainly imported grains, oleaginous fruits, medical plants, fodder, waste of food industry, and food for animals. Kenya was the highestexporter to Egypt with the value of imports from Kenya standing at EGP 2.02bn. " The most important iterms that were imported from Kenya were coffee, tea, mate, spices, tobacco," the statistcs agency said. Nile basin countries include Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda, Congo, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and Eritrea. Earlier this month, the Ministry of Industry and Foreign Trade issued a report stating that Egyptian exports reached $1.667bn (EGP 11.917bn) during August, increasing by 24.88% compared to the same month last year.
