Trade exchange bet. Egypt, COMESA countries increased by 24%

CAIRO – 22 November 2023: Egypt's trade volume with Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) countries experienced a 24 percent increase in 2022, according to data released by the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS).

According to CAPMAS, the total value of exports to COMESA countries reached $3.544 million during 2022, marking a 15.6 percent rise from the $3.066 million recorded in 2021.

The top five COMESA countries to which Egypt directs its exports, namely Libya, Sudan, Kenya, Tunisia, and Djibouti, collectively represent 84.8 percent of the bloc's total imports.

Libya stands out as the largest importer from Egypt, having imported products worth $1.215 million. Sudan follows closely with imports valued at $929 million, while Kenya recorded imports amounting to $356 million. Tunisia and Djibouti complete the list with imports worth $306 million and $173 million, respectively.

Egypt's most significant export commodities to the COMESA bloc include plastics, with a value of $335 million, followed by fertilizers at $305 million, and fuel and mineral oils at $210 million.

Furthermore, Egypt witnessed a substantial increase in its total imports from COMESA countries in 2022, reaching $1.887 million, marking a noteworthy growth of 43.1 percent compared to $1.319 million in 2021.

When it comes to imports, the Democratic Republic of Congo emerges as the primary exporter to Egypt, with exports amounting to $525 million. Sudan closely follows with exports valued at $505 million, while Zambia exported goods worth $314 million. Kenya's exports to Egypt amounted to $308 million, and Libya's exports accounted for $89 million.

Collectively, these five countries account for 92.6 percent of the bloc's total exports to Egypt.