Countries · EG
Egypt: sanctions and trade risk
As of 7 November 2026, the screened UN, EU, UK, Swiss and US sanctions lists contain 20 companies, organisations, vessels and aircraft linked to Egypt.Lists last checked .
Logistics profile: ports, airports, customs, documents, holidays, news ↓
No elevated country indicator for Egypt in the route rules Sanctioni uses. That is not a clearance: goods may still be export-controlled, and parties in Egypt may still be on a list.
On the sanctions lists
20 entries on the official lists name Egypt — as nationality, address, registration or flag. That links them to the country; it says nothing about other companies there. The same company can appear on several lists and is then counted once per list. Individuals are not included — Sanctioni does not process them.
| List | Entries | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US OFAC — Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) | 14 | 14 | — | — |
| Switzerland SECO Consolidated Sanctions List | 4 | 4 | — | — |
| EU Consolidated Financial Sanctions List (FSF) | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| UK Sanctions List (FCDO) | 1 | 1 | — | — |
Latest changes
No new listings or removals naming Egypt recorded yet.
Related
Logistics profile
Egypt: logistics and trade
Suez Canal transit country / sea and air cargo hub for North Africa
Egypt (EG) links the Mediterranean and the Red Sea via the Suez Canal, making it one of the world's most important transit countries and North Africa's sea and air freight hub. Imports run through the Nafeza single window with mandatory Advance Cargo Information (ACID number; sea freight since 1 October 2021, air freight since 1 January 2026); import VAT is 14 percent. The EU Association Agreement and the EFTA agreement apply (EUR.1/EUR-MED), alongside GAFTA, Agadir, COMESA and AfCFTA. The main gateways are the container ports of Port Said/East Port Said, Damietta and Alexandria/El Dekheila, Ain Sokhna on the Red Sea, and Cairo airport (CAI), Africa's largest cargo airport. Key corridors are the Cairo–Alexandria Desert Road, the Cairo–Suez/Ain Sokhna axes and the Alexandria–Cairo–Aswan railway plus the new freight line to the SCZone. Typical cargo includes oil and gas products, wheat, fertilisers, chemicals and textiles; leading partners are China, EU countries, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states.
- Capital
- Cairo
- Population
- 116,538,258
- Area
- 1,010,408 km²
- Currency
- Egyptian Pound (EGP)
- Continent
- Africa
- Region
- North Africa / MENA
- Economic area
- GAFTA / COMESA / Agadir / AfCFTA
- Religions
- Islam, Christianity
- Access to the sea
- Yes
Transport modes Sea · Air · Road · Rail · Pipeline
- Current situation
- Suez Canal transits remain around 60 percent below pre-crisis levels, but recovery is slow and selective: individual liner services (including ME11 since February 2026, Maersk test transits since December 2025) are returning; SCA revenues Jul-Oct 2025 +14,2 percent. Container throughput at Egyptian ports 2025 +24 percent to 11,1 million TEU. ACI requirement for air cargo in force since 1.1.2026. (Status 2026-07-22)
- Seasonal conditions
- Arid climate; summer heat strains cold chains. Sandstorms (Chamsin, spring) and occasional heavy rain can briefly disrupt ports and roads.
Main seaports
- Damietta
Damietta (EG DAM): eastern Mediterranean transshipment hub. New DACT terminal (Hapag-Lloyd, Eurogate, Contship), planned 3.3M TEU capacity, plus grain and LNG.
- Al Iskandariyh (Alexandria)
Alexandria (EG ALY): Egypt's historic main Mediterranean port, 2.6M TEU and 82M tonnes in FY2025/26, grain and steel, one-window customs clearance.
- Abu Qir
Abu Qir (EGAKI) near Alexandria: fertiliser, grain and citrus port; new Hutchison terminal (1,200 m quay, 18 m draft, 2M TEU capacity, US$730M investment).
- Bur Sa'id
Bur Sa'id / Port Said (EG PSD): container and transshipment port at the Suez Canal. APM Terminals' SCCT near 7M TEU, Asia–Europe trade, alternatives Damietta, Alexandria.
- North Ain Sukhna Port
Sokhna (EG AIS) on the Gulf of Suez is the SCZONE's deepwater container gateway: DP World and RSCT, up to 3.5M TEU, about 17 m draught.
- Ain Sukhna Terminal
Ain Sokhna (SUMED): Red Sea crude-oil transshipment terminal, not a container port — pipeline to Sidi Kerir. Containers via Sokhna/DP World.
Main cargo airports
- Cairo International AirportCAI
Cairo (CAI), Africa's 2nd-largest cargo airport and EgyptAir Cargo's base, with Cairo Cargo City (290,000 t/yr). Egypt's central air-freight hub.
- Borj El Arab International AirportHBE
Borj El Arab (HBE) serves Alexandria with a dedicated freight terminal (~10,000 t/year) and quick links to the Alexandria and El Dekheila seaports.
- Sphinx International AirportSPX
Sphinx International (SPX) near Giza, opened 2020: a tourism gateway to the Pyramids with ~1.5M passengers. Air cargo runs through Cairo International (CAI).
Road corridors
- Cairo-Alexandria Desert Road
- Cairo-Suez
- Cairo-Ain Sokhna
- Cairo-Assiut (Upper Egypt)
Rail corridors
- Alexandria-Cairo-Aswan
- Cairo-Ain Sokhna freight railway
- new electric high-speed/freight axis (SCZone)
Inland ports
- Dry port 6th of October
- Dry port Cairo
Main trade lanes
- Asia-Europe via Suez transit
- EU-Egypt
- China-Egypt
- Gulf States-Egypt
Customs and import
Customs authority Egyptian Customs Authority (ECA) / Single Window NafezaOfficial website ↗
- Import customs system
- Nafeza (National Single Window) with mandatory Advance Cargo Information (ACI); ACID number 48 hours before loading. Sea since 1.10.2021, air cargo since 1.1.2026.
- Export customs system
- Export clearance handled electronically via Nafeza/ECA; certificates of origin depending on the agreement (EUR.1/EUR-MED, GAFTA certificate of origin).
- Import VAT
- Import VAT 14 percent standard rate (reduced rate of 5 percent on certain goods); collected at customs clearance by the Egyptian Tax Authority.
- Proofs of origin and trade agreements
- EFTA-Egypt (in force since 1.8.2007) and EU Association Agreement: EUR.1/EUR-MED, origin declaration. GAFTA, Agadir, COMESA and AfCFTA with their own certificates of origin.
- Restricted and prohibited goods
- Import restrictions, among others, for certain agricultural goods, chemicals and security goods; registration requirement for factories and brands (GOEIC Decree 43/2016).
Typical import documents
- Commercial invoice
- Packing list
- Bill of Lading / Air Waybill
- ACID number (Nafeza/ACI)
- Certificate of origin
- Conformity / GOEIC registration
Typical export documents
- Commercial invoice
- Packing list
- Proof of origin (EUR.1/EUR-MED or GAFTA)
- Bill of Lading / Air Waybill
- Export customs declaration
Logistics conditions
- Customs complexity
- High
- Customs delays
- Medium to high
- Port congestion
- Medium
- Dangerous goods relevance
- Medium to high
- Pharma and cold chain relevance
- High
- E-commerce relevance
- Medium
Trade
Top import partners
Top export partners
Top import goods
- Petroleum products
- Wheat
- Natural gas
- Medicines
- Vehicles
Top export goods
- Mineral oils
- Electrical machinery
- Fertilizers
- Food
- Iron
Typical cargo
- Crude oil/natural gas and refinery products
- Grain/wheat
- Fertilizers
- Chemicals
- Textiles
- Machinery and vehicles
Upcoming public holidays
- Coptic ChristmasThu, 7 Jan 2027 · businesses closed
- January 25 Revolution Day / Police DayMon, 25 Jan 2027 · businesses closed
- Sinai Liberation DaySun, 25 Apr 2027 · businesses closed
- Labour DaySat, 1 May 2027 · businesses closed
- Sham El Nessim (Spring Festival)Mon, 3 May 2027 · businesses closed
- June 30 Revolution DayWed, 30 Jun 2027 · businesses closed
- July 23 Revolution Day (National Day)Fri, 23 Jul 2027 · businesses closed
- Armed Forces Day (October War 1973)Wed, 6 Oct 2027 · businesses closed
Latest logistics news
- Suez Return Could Increase Pressure on Shipping Rates13 Oct 2026
The return of individual services to the Suez Canal can free up capacity. Bookings still require a confirmed route and transit time.
- Asia-Europe: Increased Suez Traffic Intensifies Pressure on Freight Rates8 Oct 2026
More Suez traffic brings capacity back to Asia–Europe. This puts pressure on rates, while port congestion and blank sailings could quickly reverse the picture.
- Gemini Sends Four Additional Services Through Suez Canal3 Oct 2026
Four Gemini services return to Suez. Shippers benefit from shorter transit times, but must continue planning for diversions.
- Hormuz Remains a Problem Zone: China Restructures Its Oil Route19 Aug 2026
China is diverting its oil shipments away from Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb. At the same time, a deadly attack on a cargo vessel demonstrates how high the risk remains.
- MSC Reroutes Seven Container Ships Through Suez and Bab el-Mandeb19 Aug 2026
MSC is increasingly operating through the Suez Canal and the Red Sea again. Seven vessels have already been documented. However, a complete return to the route has not yet been officially announced.
Logistics questions
Which import VAT applies in Egypt?
The standard rate is 14 percent, collected at customs clearance by the Egyptian Tax Authority. A reduced rate of 5 percent applies to certain goods; exports are generally zero-rated.
What is the ACID number and when do I need it?
The 19-digit ACID number links the advance data (Advance Cargo Information) in the Nafeza Single Window with the import shipment. It must be available before loading; mandatory for sea freight since 1.10.2021 and for air freight since 1.1.2026.
Is there a free trade agreement between Switzerland and Egypt?
Yes. The EFTA-Egypt Agreement has been in force since 1.8.2007 and covers industrial products and processed agricultural goods. Proof of origin is EUR.1/EUR-MED or the origin declaration.
What are Egypt's main ports?
The leaders in container handling are Port Said (East Port Said) on the Suez Canal, Damietta and Alexandria/El Dekheila. Ain Sokhna on the Red Sea and Safaga complement the network. In 2025 throughput rose by around 24 percent to 11,1 million TEU.
How is air freight handled to Egypt?
The main cargo airport is Cairo (CAI), Africa's largest cargo airport; Borg El Arab near Alexandria serves as a complement. Advance Cargo Information with ACID number has also been mandatory for air freight since 1.1.2026.
What role does the Suez Canal play in logistics?
The Suez Canal is the central sea trade route between Asia and Europe. Since the Red Sea crisis in 2024, transits and canal revenues have been declining, as many shipping lines are diverting around the Cape of Good Hope.
Full logistics profile on Freight Academy ↗
Powered by Freight Academy, verified 22 Jul 2026. Logistics information, not a sanctions source.