Egypt’s Trade Balance Deficit Drops 28.7% in July

 Containers at an Egyptian port. (Reuters)
Containers at an Egyptian port. (Reuters)
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Egypt’s Trade Balance Deficit Drops 28.7% in July

 Containers at an Egyptian port. (Reuters)
Containers at an Egyptian port. (Reuters)

Egypt’s trade deficit declined by 28.7% year-on-year (YoY) in July, according to data released on Tuesday by the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS).

The monthly bulletin revealed that the deficit value of trade balance reached $2.7 billion in July, down from $3.8 billion for the same month of the previous year.

The country’s exports increased by 2.2% YoY in July to $3.13 billion, versus $3.07 billion for the same month of the previous year.

The value of imports decreased by 14.8% to $5.81 billion during July 2022, versus 6.82 billion in July 2021.

Separately, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates announced organizing a ceremony under the slogan “UAE and Egypt… One Heart.”

The three-day event will be held at the Egyptian capital Cairo in celebration of the 50th anniversary of UAE- Egypt ties and brotherly relations.

Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said his country is keen to underline depth of the strategic ties with the UAE and highlight the distinguished relation that brings both countries together.

He further underscored the cooperation between the two governments, as well as the political understanding and unified vision between the two countries’ leaderships.

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has issued a directive to bolster cooperation frameworks between the two countries, the Premier added.

He said the government looks forward to welcoming the Emiratis at the celebrations.

“We reviewed during the cabinet meeting 50 years of distinguished and stable Emirati-Egyptian relations, which were sponsored by the president of the Egyptian state,” Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai said on Tuesday.

“In celebration and consolidation of these exceptional brotherly Arab ties spanning 50 years, we have directed the organization of special celebrations.”

Egypt’s Minister of Planning and Economic Development Hala al-Said underscored the depth of Egyptian-Emirati relations in a range of political and economic areas, in addition to investment cooperation.



OPEC Again Cuts 2024, 2025 Oil Demand Growth Forecasts

The OPEC logo. Reuters
The OPEC logo. Reuters
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OPEC Again Cuts 2024, 2025 Oil Demand Growth Forecasts

The OPEC logo. Reuters
The OPEC logo. Reuters

OPEC cut its forecast for global oil demand growth this year and next on Tuesday, highlighting weakness in China, India and other regions, marking the producer group's fourth consecutive downward revision in the 2024 outlook.

The weaker outlook highlights the challenge facing OPEC+, which comprises the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies such as Russia, which earlier this month postponed a plan to start raising output in December against a backdrop of falling prices.

In a monthly report on Tuesday, OPEC said world oil demand would rise by 1.82 million barrels per day in 2024, down from growth of 1.93 million bpd forecast last month. Until August, OPEC had kept the outlook unchanged since its first forecast in July 2023.

In the report, OPEC also cut its 2025 global demand growth estimate to 1.54 million bpd from 1.64 million bpd, Reuters.

China accounted for the bulk of the 2024 downgrade. OPEC trimmed its Chinese growth forecast to 450,000 bpd from 580,000 bpd and said diesel use in September fell year-on-year for a seventh consecutive month.

"Diesel has been under pressure from a slowdown in construction amid weak manufacturing activity, combined with the ongoing deployment of LNG-fuelled trucks," OPEC said with reference to China.

Oil pared gains after the report was issued, with Brent crude trading below $73 a barrel.

Forecasts on the strength of demand growth in 2024 vary widely, partly due to differences over demand from China and the pace of the world's switch to cleaner fuels.

OPEC is still at the top of industry estimates and has a long way to go to match the International Energy Agency's far lower view.

The IEA, which represents industrialised countries, sees demand growth of 860,000 bpd in 2024. The agency is scheduled to update its figures on Thursday.

- OUTPUT RISES

OPEC+ has implemented a series of output cuts since late 2022 to support prices, most of which are in place until the end of 2025.

The group was to start unwinding the most recent layer of cuts of 2.2 million bpd from December but said on Nov. 3 it will delay the plan for a month, as weak demand and rising supply outside the group maintain downward pressure on the market.

OPEC's output is also rising, the report showed, with Libyan production rebounding after being cut by unrest. OPEC+ pumped 40.34 million bpd in October, up 215,000 bpd from September. Iraq cut output to 4.07 million bpd, closer to its 4 million bpd quota.

As well as Iraq, OPEC has named Russia and Kazakhstan as among the OPEC+ countries which pumped above quotas.

Russia's output edged up in October by 9,000 bpd to about 9.01 million bpd, OPEC said, slightly above its quota.