Egypt emerges Indonesia’s biggest African export market with $1.59 billion in 2025

Indonesia’s trade relationship with Egypt reached a new high in 2025, with Indonesian exports to the North African country valued at $1.59 billion in the first 10 months of the year, according to data from Statistics Indonesia.

• Indonesia’s exports to Egypt hit a record $1.59 billion in the first ten months of 2025.
• The milestone makes Egypt Indonesia’s largest export market in Africa and third in the Middle East.
• Overall bilateral trade grew by over 37 per cent year-on-year, with Indonesia maintaining a $1.23 billion surplus.
• Both countries are expanding the range of traded goods, from palm oil and coffee to fertiliser and dates.

The figure shows that Egypt is Indonesia’s largest export destination in Africa and its third-largest market in the Middle East.

The latest numbers underscore a deepening economic partnership between Southeast Asia’s largest economy and one of Africa’s most populous nations.

Overall trade between the two countries expanded by 37.16 per cent as of October 2025 compared with the same period last year, reflecting what Indonesian officials describe as increasingly robust commercial ties.

Indonesia’s ambassador to Egypt, Lutfi Rauf, said the export performance highlights Egypt’s growing importance in Indonesia’s Africa strategy.

“Indonesian exports value to Egypt reaches $1.59 billion, making it the largest in Africa,” he said during a visit to Al Shorouk Company for Import and Export Plantation in Egypt’s Menofia Province.

Beyond the headline growth, the trade relationship has shown resilience over time. Indonesia and Egypt have recorded positive trade growth for five consecutive years, averaging 5.77 per cent annually. In 2025, Indonesia maintained a strong trade surplus with Egypt, estimated at $1.23 billion.

A closer look at the data shows that Indonesian exports to Egypt rose by 25.20 per cent year-on-year between January and October 2025. Egypt’s exports to Indonesia grew even faster, surging by 139 per cent, although from a smaller base.

According to the Indonesian Embassy in Cairo, demand for Indonesian products in Egypt has continued to widen. Key exports include palm oil and its derivatives, coffee, coconut-based products, yarn, paper, cocoa powder, footwear, steel, cocoa fat, and spices such as nutmeg and cloves.

Trade attaché M. Syahran Bhakti said that about 360 Indonesian products are now available in the Egyptian market.

Egyptian exports to Indonesia are also gaining traction, ranging from phosphate, potatoes, and molasses to dates, asphalt, citrus, fertiliser, grains, and telecommunications devices. About 84 Egyptian product items are currently circulating in Indonesia.

Industry players see further room for collaboration as Eng. Shaaban Hashad, chief executive of Al Shorouk Company, welcomed Indonesia’s push to strengthen trade ties and expressed interest in partnerships with Indonesian fruit importers, signalling potential growth in agribusiness links between both regions.