Sourcing & Trade Guide
Import From China to Egypt: Process, Documents and Shipping
Comilmart Team
November 4, 2026
An importer in Cairo's Ataba district has been buying stock from local wholesalers for years, and the margins are narrowing every season. A furniture-fittings dealer in Alexandria wants to bring in hinges, drawer runners and LED lighting directly. A contractor in Mansoura needs a steady supply of electrical fittings. All three are asking the same question: how do I import from China to Egypt without losing money on the first order?
Egypt is a large, active import market with serious port infrastructure on both the Mediterranean and the Red Sea, and Chinese suppliers know it well. But Egypt also has a reputation among importers for strict documentation. Advance electronic cargo information, importer registration, factory registration for exporters and shifting rules on certain goods all mean that the sequence of steps matters. Ship first and ask questions later, and you may find your container waiting at the port.
This guide covers the process in order: what to settle at home, how to find and test suppliers, which Egyptian steps to ask your agent about, the documents you will deal with, how cargo travels to Alexandria, Port Said, Damietta, Sokhna or other ports, and what to prepare for clearing. It is general guidance for buyers, and it applies whichever platform or introduction you use.
Know your own status as an importer first
Before you speak to any Chinese supplier, make sure your own business can legally import the goods you have in mind. In general terms, Egypt requires commercial importers to be registered, and registered businesses need the right commercial documents and tax identification. Rules differ between individuals, companies and free-zone operators, and between trading and importing for your own use.
Ask a licensed customs broker or your accountant:
- Is my business registered to import commercial goods?
- Is there a separate registration, licence or approval for the product category?
- Who in my company will be named on the import documents?
- Can I import this product at all, or is it restricted or banned?
Rules and fees change, so confirm current requirements with a licensed customs broker or the relevant Egyptian authority. This is the unglamorous part of the work, but it decides whether you can bring goods in. Most import trouble in any country begins with a buyer who ordered first and registered later.
The Egyptian steps that surprise first-time importers
Two features of the Egyptian system are worth understanding before you negotiate with a supplier. Both are described here in general terms, because details change.
Advance cargo information. Egypt has used an advance electronic cargo information system, often referred to as ACI or ACID, under which importers register shipments and the information is submitted before the goods are loaded. In simple terms, the shipment should be registered, and a reference number generated, before it leaves the foreign port. Shipping lines and forwarders may refuse to load cargo that has no valid reference. Ask your agent how this works today, who registers, and when.
Registration of foreign exporters or factories. For many goods, Egypt has required overseas factories and exporters to register with the Egyptian authority responsible for export and import control before they can ship to Egypt. This protects the buyer by checking that the factory exists and produces what it claims, but it also means your supplier must hold, or be willing to obtain, the right registration. Ask the supplier directly whether their factory is registered for Egypt and request proof.
Because these procedures have been revised more than once, take current guidance from your customs broker and the Egyptian authorities, not from an old article or a supplier who says it will "handle everything".
Standards, labelling and regulated goods
Many products must conform to Egyptian standards or technical regulations. The authority that deals with standards and quality control checks goods such as electrical appliances, toys, textiles, food, cosmetics and building materials. Food and medicines involve additional health authorities. Labelling is a frequent source of problems: Arabic text, origin marking and product information may be required.
For each product, ask:
- Which standard or regulation applies, and who checks it?
- Does the product need pre-shipment inspection or a certificate of conformity?
- What must the label show, and in which language?
- Is the product restricted, or does it need a specific permit?
If you sell electricals, check voltage, plug types and safety marks. If you sell textiles or clothing, check labelling and fibre content declarations. If you sell food or cosmetics, check ingredient and expiry rules. A supplier should be able to supply technical data and certificates, but you need to confirm that they meet Egyptian requirements.
Finding Chinese suppliers who suit Egyptian orders
China has manufacturing clusters for almost every product category: furniture and fittings around Foshan and Guangzhou, textiles and garments around Keqiao and Shaoxing, small commodities in Yiwu, electronics in Shenzhen, ceramics and tiles in Foshan and Zibo. Choose the cluster that fits your product, rather than relying on a general trading company.
You can find suppliers through online marketplaces, trade fairs, referrals from other Egyptian importers, sourcing agents and requests for quotation. On Comilmart you can browse suppliers by category, read specifications and tiered pricing, and look for Verified badges that show a company has completed a document review. You can also post a sourcing request so that interested suppliers send quotations to you. Which suppliers appear depends on what they have listed.
Questions for every shortlisted supplier:
- Are you the factory or a trading company? Can I see a video of the production line?
- Have you exported to Egypt before, and do you hold the registration needed to ship there?
- What is the MOQ, and how does price change with quantity?
- What packaging do you use, and does it suit humid sea transport?
- What is the production time, and what happens if you are late?
- Who arranges pre-shipment inspection or certificates, if required?
Comparing quotations side by side
| Factor | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Unit price and tiers | How the price changes as quantity rises |
| MOQ | Whether you can begin with a trial order |
| Incoterm | FOB, CIF or other; who carries cost and risk |
| Egypt readiness | Factory registration, labelling, certificates |
| Lead time | Production time plus time to ship |
| Samples | Cost, time and policy |
| Payment terms | Deposit and balance structure |
| Packaging | Carton size, labelling, protection |
Incoterms in plain language: under FOB (free on board), the supplier loads the goods onto the ship at the Chinese port and you arrange freight and insurance to Egypt. Under CIF (cost, insurance and freight), the supplier pays freight and insurance to the named Egyptian port, although risk generally passes at loading. Make sure that if you compare two prices, they use the same term.
Samples, contract and staged payment
Order samples from at least two suppliers. Test them against the specification and against the standards you must meet. Keep one sample sealed as the reference for the bulk order.
Your purchase agreement should record the product description, reference to the approved sample, quantity, price, currency, Incoterm and port, production and shipping dates, packaging, labelling, inspection rights, payment schedule, and the remedy if goods are late, defective or different from the sample.
On payment, avoid sending the full sum up front. A common structure is a deposit to start production and a balance after inspection and before release of documents, but terms are negotiable. Pay only to an account in the name of the company on the invoice, and confirm any change of bank details by phone. Protected payment, in which money is released against agreed milestones, can reduce risk; the Trade Assurance page explains how this works in general terms on Comilmart, and you should read the terms applicable to your order.
Arrange an independent inspection before shipping. A good inspector checks quantity, appearance, function, packing, carton marking and a sample from the production run against the approved sample.
Shipping to Egypt: ports and modes
Most Chinese cargo to Egypt moves by sea. Containers load at ports such as Shanghai, Ningbo, Shenzhen, Guangzhou (Nansha) or Qingdao and travel via the Suez Canal or the Red Sea region, depending on the service, to Egyptian ports.
- Alexandria and Dekheila on the Mediterranean serve the delta, Cairo and the north.
- Port Said and East Port Said at the northern end of the canal handle large container volumes.
- Damietta is another Mediterranean option, often used for general cargo and containers.
- Sokhna on the Red Sea is close to Cairo and commonly used for Asian trade.
Which port is best depends on the shipping line's service, the destination, port conditions and your agent's advice. Ask your forwarder to compare options for your cargo and give a current transit estimate; do not assume the same route will be used for every shipment. Air freight reaches Cairo International Airport and is used for samples, urgent items and lightweight high-value goods.
| Mode | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Full container (FCL) | Larger or regular orders | Cash tied up in stock |
| Shared container (LCL) | Smaller orders | More handling, possible delays |
| Air freight | Samples, urgent, light items | Charges by weight and volume |
Insure the cargo and agree who is responsible at each stage, including unloading and inland transport.
Documents and clearing
A typical import file includes:
- Commercial invoice and packing list, with consistent descriptions and values
- Bill of lading or air waybill
- Advance cargo information reference, where required
- Certificate of origin and certificates of conformity, if applicable
- Evidence of exporter or factory registration, where applicable
- Importer registration and tax documents
- Insurance certificate
Appoint a licensed customs broker or clearing agent before ordering, and share draft documents early. Ask about port storage terms and what happens if goods wait. Duties, taxes, port charges and inspection fees depend on the product and change often, so rely on your broker and the relevant authority for current figures, not on a supplier's estimate.
Never agree to understate the value or alter a product description. Misdeclaration can lead to fines, delays and seizure.
A worked example in words: Import From China to Egypt
An Alexandria dealer wants to import cabinet hinges and drawer runners. He first speaks to his customs broker, who tells him which registrations apply and what the supplier needs to provide. He writes a specification, including material, finish, load rating and packaging, and posts it as a sourcing request. Four suppliers respond. Two say they have shipped to Egypt before and can show registration, so he orders samples from them, tests the samples for smooth movement, and compares the finish after a salt-water test. One sample is clearly better.
He signs a contract that refers to the approved sample, agrees a staged payment, and books an independent inspection. The advance cargo information is registered before the goods are loaded, as his broker explained. The container goes via the supplier's usual route, and the broker clears it. He sells the first lot, learns which sizes sold fastest, and adjusts the next order.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to register to import from China to Egypt?
Commercial importers generally need to be registered, and certain goods and exporters have additional requirements. Check with a licensed customs broker, because rules change.
What is advance cargo information for Egypt?
It is an electronic registration of the shipment before it is loaded abroad, producing a reference that is needed for the cargo to travel. Ask your agent how it works now and who submits it.
Which Egyptian port should I use?
It depends on your goods, the shipping line and where your customers are. Alexandria, Port Said, Damietta and Sokhna are common choices, and your forwarder can compare them.
Can I import small quantities from China to Egypt?
Yes, through suppliers with low minimums or shared containers. Check the registration, labelling and documentation requirements, which apply regardless of order size.
How do I avoid problems with Chinese suppliers?
Verify the company, ask for a factory video, test samples, put the specification in the contract, pay in stages, inspect before paying the balance and use protected payment.
Next step
If you are ready to import from China to Egypt, start with a clear, small plan:
- Confirm with a customs broker what your business needs to import your product.
- Open a free buyer account at Comilmart and browse suppliers by category at /browse, depending on what suppliers have listed.
- Post your specification at /rfq-sourcing and compare quotations.
- Order samples and test them against Egyptian requirements.
- Agree staged payment and inspection in writing before the factory starts.
For more on safer payments, read the buyer protection page. Regulations and fees change, so confirm current requirements with a licensed customs broker, your tax adviser or the relevant Egyptian authority before you ship.