Egypt’s trade deficit reached $4.9 billion in December 2025, compared with $4.4 billion in the same month of 2024, marking an increase of 12.2 percent, according to the monthly foreign trade bulletin issued on Thursday by the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS).

The value of exports rose by 6.8 percent to $4.6 billion in December 2025, up from $4.3 billion in the same month a year earlier. The increase was mainly driven by higher exports of several commodities, including ready-made garments, which rose by 19.3 percent, fresh fruits by 23.8 percent, food preparations and various edible products by 14.9 percent, and pharmaceutical products by 0.2 percent.

At the same time, exports of several other goods declined compared with December 2024, most notably petroleum products, which fell by 11.2 percent, fertilizers by 35.5 percent, plastics in primary forms by 19.0 percent, and iron products such as bars, rods, angles, and wires by 56.5 percent.

Meanwhile, the value of imports increased by 9.6 percent to $9.5 billion in December 2025, compared with $8.7 billion in the same month of the previous year. This rise was largely attributed to higher imports of natural gas, which increased by 54.4 percent, petroleum products by 15.6 percent, raw materials of iron or steel by 1.5 percent, and wheat by 50.0 percent.

On the other hand, imports of some goods declined during the month, including passenger cars, which fell by 26.8 percent, organic and inorganic chemicals by 18.7 percent, refined oils by 4.6 percent, and yarns made from plant or synthetic fibers by 6.8 percent.