How to Import From China to Egypt: Suppliers, Shipping and Customs Basics

To import from China to Egypt, you need a registered importer, a Chinese supplier that meets Egyptian requirements for your product, an Advance Cargo Information filing for sea shipments, and a licensed customs broker to clear the goods at the port. Egypt has stricter paperwork than many African markets, and the rules have changed several times in recent years, so planning matters more than speed. This guide explains the main steps, the bodies involved and the questions to ask before you pay a deposit. It is general information, not legal advice, so confirm current requirements with Egyptian authorities and a licensed agent.

How to import from China to Egypt: the overview

If you are asking how to import from China to Egypt, think in six steps.

Check your product. Find out whether it is regulated and what certification or registration it needs.
Check your own status. Confirm that you can import legally, usually as a registered importer, or work through a company that is.
Find and verify the supplier, including whether its factory meets Egyptian registration rules where they apply.
File the Advance Cargo Information for sea shipments before the goods are shipped.
Ship and clear through a port, using a customs broker.
Calculate landed cost and collect your goods.

Our general guide on how to import from China covers the universal basics, such as sampling and payment terms. The sections below focus on Egypt.

Who can import: importer registration

Egypt keeps an official register of importers, and in general you need to be on it to import goods for trade. Law firm commentary reports that the rules for the register were replaced by a ministerial decree in July 2026, which among other things introduced a time-limited route for foreign-owned businesses and new reporting duties. We have not verified the details first-hand, and the rules may be amended, so ask the General Organization for Export and Import Control (GOEIC) or a licensed broker about the current conditions for your company type.

If you do not have a registered entity, one common option is to buy from an Egyptian importer or distributor instead of importing yourself. You pay more per item, but you avoid registration, customs and shipping risk. Decide which model suits your volume and experience.

Supplier checks and Egypt import requirements

Egypt's import requirements can apply to the supplier as well as the buyer. According to the U.S. International Trade Administration's summary of the GOEIC programme, factories, manufacturers and trademark owners that export certain regulated products to Egypt must register with GOEIC. The registration involves notarised documents such as the legal identity and operating licence, a list of products and trademarks, and a quality control certificate from a recognised body. Food and food-contact products follow a separate programme run by the National Food Safety Authority. The summary also notes that it does not list all regulated products, fees or processing times.

What this means in practice: before you place an order, ask your supplier whether it is registered with GOEIC for your product category, and ask your Egyptian customs broker whether registration is needed. Goods from unregistered sources can be refused clearance where the rule applies. If the supplier does not understand the question, treat that as a warning. Our guide on how to verify a supplier before you pay covers identity, factory and payment checks.

Advance Cargo Information (ACI) for sea shipments

Egypt introduced an Advance Cargo Information system for ocean shipments. DHL Global Forwarding reported that submission became mandatory for all ocean shipments into Egypt from 1 October 2021, after a pilot, and that air and land shipments would be added later. We cannot confirm the current scope, so ask your broker whether it applies to your shipment today.

The process described is this. The importer, or the broker acting for them, registers on the Egyptian Nafeza portal and files each shipment to obtain a unique reference number, called an ACID. The overseas exporter registers on the CargoX platform, receives the same ACID and uploads the shipping documents. DHL's notice says the filing must be made at least 48 hours before departure and that shipments without a valid filing can be refused entry and returned to the port of origin. Because that is a serious outcome, you should confirm the exact deadline and process with your broker, and tell your Chinese supplier about the requirement before you finalise the order.

China to Egypt shipping: ports and routes

For most buyers, China to Egypt shipping means sea freight in containers. Egypt has several major container ports. A port listing we reviewed names Port Said, Alexandria, Damietta and El Dekheila on the Mediterranean, and Sokhna on the Red Sea. For buyers in Cairo, Sokhna and the Mediterranean ports are both used, and the best choice depends on the shipping line, the rate and the inland trucking distance.

Ask your forwarder to quote more than one port and to explain which one they recommend and why. For Alexandria port importers, the port is a major gateway on the Mediterranean, and many shipping lines serve it. Always get the quote in writing, including origin charges, freight, destination charges and inland transport, and check which Incoterm the price assumes. With FOB you arrange and pay for the sea freight, and with CIF the supplier's price covers freight and insurance to the destination port.

For other routes into the continent, you may also want our freight to Africa shipping guide.

Egypt customs clearance and documents

Egypt customs clearance is handled through the Egyptian Customs Authority with the help of a licensed customs broker. Your broker will use your shipping documents to file the customs declaration and arrange payment of duties and taxes. A clean set of documents prevents most delays. Typically you need a commercial invoice, a packing list, a bill of lading or air waybill, and a certificate of origin where required. Depending on the product, you may also need certificates, test reports or inspection documents.

Make sure the same details appear on every document: company names, product descriptions, quantities and values. Mismatches can lead to questions, delays or penalties. Our guide on the bill of lading, commercial invoice and packing list shows what each document does and what to check. Ask your broker for a document checklist before the supplier ships.

Landed cost: do the sums first

Your cost is more than the supplier's invoice. Landed cost includes the goods, freight, insurance, duty, taxes, broker and port charges, inland transport and certification costs. Duty depends on how the product is classified, and rates change, so we do not quote any. Ask your broker to classify your product and estimate duty and taxes before you order.

Illustrative example, with round numbers and not real rates: if goods cost 100,000 in a currency of your choice, freight and insurance add 15,000, and charges and taxes add a further 30,000, then your landed cost is 145,000 before inland transport. A buyer who prices the goods at 100,000 will lose money. Our landed cost calculation guide shows how to build a proper sheet. Also think about currency: if your costs are in foreign currency and you sell in local currency, price in a margin for exchange rate changes.

Connecting with the Cairo wholesale trade

Once your goods arrive, you need buyers. Many importers sell through established wholesale districts in Cairo and other cities. Our guide to the wholesale markets in Cairo explains what areas such as Al-Moski, Attaba and Ghouriya are known for, which helps you decide where your product might fit.

Common mistakes to avoid

Paying a deposit before checking whether the product needs registration or certification.
Not telling the Chinese supplier about the ACI filing, which can delay or block entry.
Choosing a broker on price alone without checking licence and experience.
Using inconsistent product descriptions across documents.
Ignoring currency and inland transport in your pricing.
Ordering a full container as a first order.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a licence to import into Egypt? In general you need to be registered as an importer, or buy through someone who is. The rules for the importers register have changed recently, so confirm the current requirements with GOEIC or a licensed broker.

What is ACI? It is Egypt's Advance Cargo Information system for sea shipments. The importer files on the Nafeza portal and the exporter uploads documents on CargoX, according to DHL's notice. Confirm current rules with your broker.

Does my Chinese supplier need to be registered in Egypt? For certain regulated products, factories and trademark owners must register with GOEIC, according to the U.S. International Trade Administration. Ask your broker whether this applies to your product.

Which Egyptian port should I use? Major container ports include Port Said, Alexandria, Damietta, El Dekheila and Sokhna. The best one depends on your shipping line, costs and where your customers are.

How much duty will I pay? It depends on the product classification and current rules. Ask a licensed broker to estimate it before ordering.

How can I avoid being scammed by a supplier? Verify the company, order a sample, avoid personal bank accounts and keep written agreements.

Getting started

Start by naming one product, asking a licensed Egyptian broker what it requires, and getting a full landed-cost estimate. If you would like to compare offers from verified suppliers, you can post a sourcing request on Comilmart. Comilmart connects buyers with verified sellers across Africa, and there are no listing fees to get started. Always confirm customs and registration rules with Egyptian authorities and a licensed agent.