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Egypt’s exports to China up more than 20% in 2022

China is making inroads in the Middle East, including by strengthening economic ties to Egypt.

Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (L) greets Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) during a signing ceremony at the Great Hall of the People on December 23, 2014 in Beijing, China. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is undertaking his first visit to China in hopes to secure investment deals. (Photo by Greg Baker - Pool/Getty Images)
Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (L) greets Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) during a signing ceremony at the Great Hall of the People on December 23, 2014 in Beijing, China. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is undertaking his first visit to China in hopes to secure investment deals. — Greg Baker - Pool/Getty Images

Egypt’s trade with China increased significantly in 2022, an Egyptian government agency said on Saturday. 

Egyptian exports to China reached $1.7 billion from January through November of 2022, an increase of 20.8% from the $1.4 billion during the same period in 2021. Chinese exports to Egypt amounted to $13.2 billion from January through November of 2022, up 0.6% from 2021, the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) said in a statement. 

CAPMAS did not indicate what the countries traded. In 2021, China's top exports to Egypt consisted of electronics, machinery and vehicles. The top Egyptian exports to China that year were overwhelmingly fuels, followed by fruit, according to Trading Economics.

Why it matters: Egypt-China economic relations are improving rapidly. China has emerged as the lead funder of Egypt’s New Administrative Capital, Al-Monitor reported in December. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, discussed the project at a summit in Saudi Arabia that month. 

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