Egyptian Exports Grow to $54 Bln

Trucks and containers at Egypt’s Alexandria Port (Reuters)
Trucks and containers at Egypt’s Alexandria Port (Reuters)
TT

Egyptian Exports Grow to $54 Bln

Trucks and containers at Egypt’s Alexandria Port (Reuters)
Trucks and containers at Egypt’s Alexandria Port (Reuters)

Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said Wednesday initial figures show that Egyptian exports reached $53.8 billion in 2022, an increase of 20 percent from last year.

For his part, Egyptian Minister of Trade and Industry Ahmed Samir stated that despite the challenging global circumstances, the non-petroleum exports of Egypt registered a record total of $35.612 billion, a 12 percent increase compared to last year.

Egypt's Petroleum Minister Tarek el-Molla said that 2022 witnessed record petroleum exports of $18.2 billion. In 2021, $12.9 billion-worth exports were made compared to $7 billion in 2020.

He further noted that a quantum leap was achieved in gas exports in 2022.

The cabinet approved the initiative aimed to support the industrial and agricultural projects in the country in its weekly meeting in Cairo on Wednesday.

The government will allocate 150 billion Egyptian pounds to the five-year initiative including nearly 140 billion pounds to finance capital money and 10 billion pounds to finance the purchase of capital goods.

The amount of credit available to each company will be determined by the volume of its business and the banking rules, provided that the maximum credit limit allowed for each company does not exceed the amount of 75 million pounds.

The initiative also stipulates that each company has transactions with a maximum of two banks from those participating in the initiative.



Oil Trims Gains on Dollar Strength, Tight Supplies Provide Support

FILE PHOTO: An oil pump jack is seen at sunset near Midland, Texas, US, May 3, 2017. REUTERS/Ernest Scheyder/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: An oil pump jack is seen at sunset near Midland, Texas, US, May 3, 2017. REUTERS/Ernest Scheyder/File Photo
TT

Oil Trims Gains on Dollar Strength, Tight Supplies Provide Support

FILE PHOTO: An oil pump jack is seen at sunset near Midland, Texas, US, May 3, 2017. REUTERS/Ernest Scheyder/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: An oil pump jack is seen at sunset near Midland, Texas, US, May 3, 2017. REUTERS/Ernest Scheyder/File Photo

Oil prices trimmed earlier gains on Wednesday as the dollar strengthened but continued to find support from a tightening of supplies from Russia and other OPEC members and a drop in US crude stocks.

Brent crude was up 21 cents, or 0.27%, at $77.26 a barrel at 1424 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude climbed 27 cents, or 0.36%, to $74.52.

Both benchmarks had risen more than 1% earlier in the session, but pared gains on a strengthening US dollar.

"Crude oil took a minor tumble in response to a strengthening dollar following news reports that Trump is considering declaring a national economic emergency to provide legal ground for universal tariffs," added Ole Hansen, analyst at Saxo Bank.

A stronger dollar makes oil more expensive for holders of other currencies.

"The drop (in oil prices) seems to be driven by a general shift in risk sentiment with European equity markets falling and the USD getting stronger," said UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo.

Oil output from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries fell in December after two months of increases, a Reuters survey showed.

In Russia, oil output averaged 8.971 million barrels a day in December, below the country's target, Bloomberg reported citing the energy ministry.

US crude oil stocks fell last week while fuel inventories rose, market sources said, citing American Petroleum Institute figures on Tuesday.

Despite the unexpected draw in crude stocks, the significant rise in product inventories was putting those prices under pressure, PVM analyst Tamas Varga said.

Analysts expect oil prices to be on average down this year from 2024 due in part to production increases from non-OPEC countries.

"We are holding to our forecast for Brent crude to average $76/bbl in 2025, down from an average of $80/bbl in 2024," BMI, a division of Fitch Group, said in a client note.