How to import from China to Egypt

What you can import

Tools, machine parts, auto spare parts, packaging, phone accessories and many household items are imported into Egypt every day. The real question is which registrations each product needs.

Egypt keeps a list of consumer products that may only be released for trade if they come from a factory, or a trademark owner, registered with the General Organization for Export and Import Control (GOEIC). This rule comes from Ministerial Decree 43 of 2016.

• Registered-factory list (GOEIC): includes items such as clothing and textiles, footwear, toys, furniture, home appliances, tableware and kitchenware, lighting, cosmetics and personal care, and some foods. Check the current list before you order.
• Many products must also meet Egyptian standards set by the Egyptian Organization for Standardization and Quality (EOS) and are inspected by GOEIC on arrival.
• Wireless and telecom equipment needs approval from the National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA); cosmetics, supplements and medical items fall under the Egyptian Drug Authority.
• Restricted or banned: drones and some surveillance equipment without security approval, weapons and replicas, counterfeit goods and used items in several categories. Check with your customs authority for regulated goods.

ACI, customs duty and VAT in Egypt in 2026

ACI is run by the Egyptian Customs Authority through the Nafeza single window. It has been mandatory for sea freight since 2021 and became mandatory for air freight on 1 January 2026. The importer registers the shipment, the foreign exporter uploads the invoice and documents, and an ACID number is issued that must appear on the shipping documents. Without it, cargo is not allowed into Egypt.

Duty depends on the HS code and runs from 0% for some raw materials to 30–60% for many finished consumer goods, with higher rates on some products treated as luxuries. VAT of 14% is then charged on the customs value plus duty, and some goods also carry a schedule tax. The value is converted to pounds at the official exchange rate.

To import for trade in your own name, a business must also be on the Importers Register held by GOEIC, whose rules were updated in July 2026.

• Customs needs a commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin and bill of lading or air waybill, all matching the ACI filing.
• Documents that do not match the ACI data are a common cause of port delays.
• Under-valuing goods is an offence.

How DDP delivery removes the hassle

DDP means delivered duty paid. With soorce, the price at checkout includes freight from China, the ACI filing, Egyptian customs clearance, duty and VAT. Our logistics partner prepares the documents with the factory, clears the goods and delivers to your address, so you do not have to manage Nafeza, an ACID number or a clearing agent for that shipment, and you are not asked for duty at the door.

DDP cannot change Egyptian law. If a product is on the GOEIC registered-factory list, it can only clear if the factory is registered, so ask us before you order and we will check whether the product can ship to Egypt. We also check the supplier and inspect the goods before they leave China.

Air or sea freight: which one pays off

Air freight to Cairo is charged per kilo with volumetric weight (length × width × height in cm ÷ 6,000), so light, bulky goods are billed on size. It suits samples, spare parts and small, high-value items.

Sea freight to Alexandria, Port Said or Damietta costs much less per kilo but takes several weeks, including clearance. It pays off for heavy or bulky goods: furniture, tools, packaging, ceramics and household items. Sea lines to Egypt usually bill from a minimum volume, so a small order is often cheaper by air.

The box below shows today's soorce door-to-door prices to Egypt, duty and VAT included, for several sample weights.

Worked example: 300 sets of car floor mats to Cairo

Say you order 300 sets of rubber car floor mats at $4.00 a set, $1,200 of goods. Packed in cartons they weigh about 150 kg. The table prices this order with today's rates by air and by sea, delivered to your door with Egyptian duty and VAT inside the shipping line.

Divide the delivered total by 300 to get the landed cost per set and compare it with local wholesale. Final weight is confirmed after packing in China, so the figure can move a little. Duty depends on the product, so another item can cost differently at the same weight.

How to order on soorce, step by step

1. Search or browse factory products. Each product page shows the price per piece, the minimum quantity and the delivered price to Egypt.
2. Add the quantities you need to your cart. Orders start from 100 pieces or $1,000; a smaller order can be sent as a request and our team will tell you if it can go ahead.
3. At checkout choose air or sea, enter your address in Egypt and pay securely online at checkout. Prices are in US dollars.
4. We confirm the order with the factory, check the supplier and its registration where Egypt requires it, and inspect the goods before they ship.
5. Our partner files the ACI, clears Egyptian customs with duty and VAT paid and delivers to your door. Track each stage from your account.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Buying a product on the GOEIC list from a factory that is not registered. The goods can be refused at the port.
• Letting the invoice, packing list and ACI data differ. Even small differences in quantities or descriptions cause delays.
• Assuming one duty rate for everything. Check the HS code, because finished goods can pay many times the rate of parts.
• Shipping bulky, light goods by air, or very small orders by sea and paying the line minimum.
• Ordering branded or look-alike goods. Counterfeits are seized.

Perguntas frequentes

Páginas relacionadas

• Envio para Egypt com a soorce
• Tarifas de envio para todos os países
• Como a soorce funciona, do pedido à entrega
• Ver Auto parts
• Ver Tools
• Ver Phone accessories
• Ver Packaging