Egypt posts 35% rise in transit trade, unveils new customs reforms

Egypt’s transit trade rose by 35 per cent over the period January-March 2026, compared with the corresponding period last year, Minister of Finance, Ahmed Kouchouk, on Tuesday. The minister made the remark at the conference organised by The German-Arab Chamber of Industry and Commerce – (AHK-Egypt), under the theme “Egypt: The Gateway to Global Trade – Connecting Continents Through Innovation”. The event featured participation of many senior officials, business leaders, international institutions and companies operating in transport and logistics. Exceptional customs facilitations have been introduced to ease cross-border trade, Kouchouk added.  These include completing customs procedures for transit shipments at ports without requiring prior registration under the Advance Cargo Information (ACI) system, as well as offering a range of alternatives to cash guarantees to simplify procedures and reduce financial burdens on investors, with the aim of maximising transit trade and positioning Egypt as a global logistics hub. Meanwhile, a new package of tax and customs incentives will be submitted to the parliament over the coming weeks, aiming to stimulate trade and transit activity and reduce customs clearance times, Kouchouk revealed.  The package includes 40 tax and customs measures designed to simplify procedures for investor partners, enabling them to expand and support economic growth, the minister explained. In addition, work is under way on an advanced risk management system in line with international standards to enhance pre-clearance processes, within a framework of trust and certainty with key partners. Egypt has a robust digital system that supports faster decision-making and accelerates procedures, Kouchouk stressed. The minister also reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to consolidating governance and protecting its borders and citizens, stressing that substandard goods will not be allowed to enter the country. A fully digital and regularly updated database of all customs regulations and procedures will be published online within days, he said. For his part, AHK-Egypt Chairman, Ahmed El-Sewedy, voiced optimism over Egypt’s promising investment opportunities, noting that investment procedures have improved and that the country’s infrastructure is both attractive and conducive to growth. The post Egypt posts 35% rise in transit trade, unveils new customs reforms appeared first on Egyptian Gazette.