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Strategic Lens

Egypt and South Africa

First country

Second country

In 2025, Egypt sold USD 162 million of goods to South Africa and bought USD 144 million from it. The DESTA database lists 2 trade agreements that include both countries, the most recent being Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) East African Community (EAC) Southern African Development Community (SADC) (2015). In 2025, Egypt sold USD 30.1 million of electrical and electronic equipment to South Africa. In 2025, Egypt sold USD 15.5 million of fertilisers to South Africa.

Benefits

  • BothTrade in goods runs both ways in similar amounts: Egypt sold USD 162 million and South Africa sold USD 144 million in 2025.
  • BothTwo-way trade in agricultural and food products grew 61 percent, from USD 34.5 million in 2019 to USD 55.7 million in 2025.
  • BothTwo-way trade in machinery, vehicles and iron and steel grew about 6.2 times, from USD 17.3 million in 2019 to USD 107 million in 2025.

Constraints

  • BothThe two countries' customs reports differ on goods sold by South Africa to Egypt in 2025: Egypt reports USD 144 million and South Africa reports USD 90.4 million.
  • BothFlows are one-sided: in 2025, Egypt sold USD 15.5 million of fertilisers, and South Africa sold almost none.
  • BothFlows are one-sided: in 2025, South Africa sold USD 98.8 million of machinery, vehicles and iron and steel, against USD 8.1 million the other way.

Sources: UN Comtrade (public preview API), annual goods trade, HS classification (retrieved 26 September 2026); DESTA: Design of Trade Agreements database, version 02_03 (retrieved 25 September 2026)

Last updated on 26 September 2026

At a glance

Goods trade, both ways
USD 307 million
2025, as reported by Egypt
Egypt to South Africa
USD 162 million
2025, as reported by Egypt
South Africa to Egypt
USD 144 million
2025, as reported by Egypt

What connects Egypt and South Africa

Economy

Trade in goodsIn 2025, Egypt sold USD 162 million of goods to South Africa and bought USD 144 million from it.

Resources

Agriculture and foodIn 2025, Egypt sold USD 42.7 million of agricultural and food products to South Africa and bought USD 13.0 million from it.FertiliserIn 2025, Egypt sold USD 15.5 million of fertilisers to South Africa.

Industry

Supply chains and manufacturingIn 2025, Egypt sold USD 8.1 million of machinery, vehicles and iron and steel to South Africa and bought USD 98.8 million from it.TechnologyIn 2025, Egypt sold USD 30.1 million of electrical and electronic equipment to South Africa.

Diplomacy

Agreements and treatiesThe DESTA database lists 2 trade agreements that include both countries, the most recent being Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) East African Community (EAC) Southern African Development Community (SADC) (2015).Multilateral alignmentBoth are members of BRICS and the African Union. Their agreement score in UN General Assembly voting was 93 percent in 2023, and 93 percent on average over 2019 to 2023.

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