Entering a New Phase of Growth and Integration: An Analysis of Egypt–Sudan Trade Figures from January to September 2026
Engineer Monjed Ibrahim
Trade relations between Egypt and Sudan have gained considerable momentum in 2026, driven by strong growth in Egyptian exports and increased movement of goods between the two countries. This reflects the depth of the economic ties between their peoples and the confidence between their respective institutions. At the same time, it highlights significant opportunities to move beyond traditional trade towards a more integrated and sustainable production and investment partnership.
According to Egypt’s Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics, non-oil foreign trade data for the period from January to September 2026 show that total trade between Egypt and Sudan reached approximately US$1.285 billion, compared with around US$984.9 million during the corresponding period in 2025 – an increase of approximately 30.5%.
These figures matter not only because they show an increase in bilateral trade value, but also because they confirm the Sudanese market’s continued importance for Egyptian exports, alongside the steady flow of key Sudanese commodities into Egypt.
Egyptian exports drive trade growth
The figures show that Egyptian exports to Sudan were the main driver of bilateral trade during the first nine months of 2026. They reached approximately US$957.6 million, compared with US$723.6 million during the same period in 2025 – an increase of around US$234 million, or 32.3%.
In the opposite direction, Egyptian imports from Sudan rose from approximately US$261.3 million between January and September 2025 to around US$327.5 million during the same period in 2026. This represents an increase of US$66.2 million, or approximately 25.3%.
As a result, Egypt’s trade surplus with Sudan during the first nine months of the year increased to approximately US$630.1 million, compared with US$462.3 million during the corresponding period of the previous year – a rise of around 36.3%.
Egyptian exports were also worth approximately 2.9 times the value of imports from Sudan – almost three times as much. This illustrates the current imbalance in trade flows in both directions, while raising an important question about how Sudanese exports to the Egyptian market can be increased and how the resources and comparative advantages of both countries can be better utilised. The decline has been particularly pronounced in Egyptian imports of Sudanese cattle, sesame and cotton.
Sudan becomes Egypt’s second-largest African export market
The Sudanese market matters beyond the scale of bilateral trade. The figures place Sudan as Egypt’s second-largest export market in Africa during the period under review, after Libya.
Egypt’s total non-oil exports to Africa amounted to approximately US$6.356 billion during the first nine months of 2026, of which Sudan accounted for around 15.1%.
This proportion carries clear economic significance: almost one dollar in every US$6.60 of Egyptian exports to Africa went to the Sudanese market. It underlines Sudan’s considerable relative importance in Egypt’s African trade strategy.
As for Egypt’s trade with North African markets, the data also indicate substantial activity with Libya, Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia, alongside Sudan’s strong position in Egypt’s economic relations across the continent.
A broad base for Egyptian exports: more than 1,000 product categories
One of the most striking indicators of the trade relationship’s diversity is the number of product categories involved. During the period under review, Egypt exported approximately 1,009 product categories to Sudan, while importing just 37 categories from Sudan.
This reflects the diversity of Egypt’s export base and the relatively narrow range of Sudanese products entering the Egyptian market. In fact, just six commodities account for approximately 99% of Sudan’s exports to Egypt, in the following order: gold, camels, watermelon seeds, sesame, cotton and cattle.
During the same period, the Egyptian market imported goods worth approximately US$76 billion in total. Sudanese imports accounted for just 0.4% of that figure. This suggests that the Egyptian market has considerable capacity to absorb additional Sudanese products, provided that supply and production are sufficient. It represents a major opportunity for Sudanese exporters.
Meanwhile, Egyptian exports to Sudan accounted for 2.3% of Egypt’s total non-oil exports, which reached US$41.7 billion during the period.
An analysis of the main commodity groups in Egyptian exports reveals considerable diversity. Food products topped the list at approximately US$213.5 million, representing 22.3% of Egyptian exports to Sudan.
Iron, steel and related products ranked second, at US$149.4 million, or 15.6%. This reflects Sudan’s entry into the initial stages of recovery and reconstruction. Fertilisers came next, at approximately US$93.9 million, representing 9.8% – a positive indicator for agricultural activity – followed by plastics and plastic products, valued at US$75.9 million.
Other significant exports included electrical machinery, appliances and equipment, worth US$61.6 million, reflecting demand associated with recovery and reconstruction; inorganic chemical products, at US$53.6 million; vegetables, fruit and preparations, at US$46.9 million; as well as glass products, oils, fats and greases, clothing and textiles.
This diversity indicates that trade between the two countries is not confined to a single sector, but extends across food, manufacturing, chemicals, machinery and consumer goods.
Gold tops Sudanese exports to Egypt
On the other side of the trade relationship, the composition of Sudanese exports to Egypt reveals a high degree of concentration in a limited number of commodities.
Gold ranked first, valued at US$171.6 million and accounting for about 52% of Sudan’s total exports to Egypt. All other commodities combined made up the remaining 48%.
Camels ranked second at US$49.6 million, representing about 15%, followed by watermelon seeds, commonly used as a snack, at US$40.6 million, or about 12%. Sesame came next, at US$35.5 million, accounting for 11%, followed by cotton at approximately US$26.3 million, or around 8%. Cattle brought up the rear, at US$1.7 million, representing approximately 1% – a particularly marked decline reflecting the impact of the war.
These six commodities account for approximately 99% of Sudan’s exports to Egypt. This highlights the considerable scope to diversify Sudan’s export base by introducing more agricultural, livestock, and industrial products with higher added value. We expect this to happen in the coming years, God willing, as Sudan completes its recovery.
2026 indicators point to continued momentum
If the average trade performance recorded during the first nine months of the year continues, estimates suggest that Egyptian exports to Sudan could reach approximately US$1.277 billion by the end of 2026, while Egyptian imports from Sudan could amount to around US$436.7 million.
Under this scenario, Egypt’s trade surplus with Sudan could reach approximately US$750–800 million.
These figures are indicative projections rather than final actual results, as they are based on extending the average performance recorded between January and September across the remaining months of the year. Nevertheless, they clearly indicate the strength of current trade momentum and the possibility that 2026 will record higher levels than the previous year, as well as those achieved in the pre-war period.
From trade to productive integration
These positive figures should not be viewed merely as an increase in exports and imports. Rather, they represent a foundation for a deeper model of Egyptian–Sudanese economic cooperation.
They reveal significant potential for complementarity between the needs of the Sudanese market and Egypt’s productive and manufacturing capabilities. Conversely, Sudan’s agricultural, livestock and mineral resources could help meet the needs of Egyptian markets and industries. This is where the real opportunities for integration in trade and industry lie.
The greater opportunity, therefore, is to move gradually from ‘trade in goods’ to ‘value creation’ by encouraging joint ventures, manufacturing, processing, packaging, logistics services, and supply chains. This approach would enable both countries to add value domestically rather than relying solely on exporting raw materials and products in their traditional forms.
Food processing, the manufacturing of agricultural and livestock products, building materials, engineering industries, fertilisers and chemicals stand out as particularly promising areas. Logistics, storage, and transport services also offer considerable potential to deepen economic ties.
The next phase will require a focus not only on increasing the overall value of bilateral trade, but also on diversifying exports, removing barriers to the movement of goods, expanding joint investment, connecting producers with importers, increasing the added value of Sudanese resources, and developing logistics services and supply chains between the two countries.
As economic relations evolve from isolated buying and selling transactions into interconnected production, investment, and distribution networks, trade will become more sustainable, with greater capacity to generate employment and economic value in both Egypt and Sudan.
A historic partnership with greater economic opportunities ahead
The figures for the first nine months of 2026 confirm that Egyptian–Sudanese trade already has a strong foundation for growth. Total trade exceeded US$1.28 billion, Egyptian exports approached the US$1 billion mark in just nine months, and Sudanese exports continued to supply the Egyptian market with strategic and important commodities.
Yet the real story goes beyond the figures themselves. The greatest opportunity for both countries lies in transforming their geographical proximity, historical ties, complementary resources and markets into a shared economic system founded on trade, investment, manufacturing, logistics and value chains.
In light of these indicators, the slogan ‘Together Towards Greater Cooperation for a More Integrated Economy’ becomes more than a media message. It represents a vision that could provide the basis for a new phase in which trade growth serves as the starting point for a deeper and more sustainable Egyptian–Sudanese economic partnership.
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