Import to Egypt: A Sourcing Guide for Traders and Distributors

Egypt is a big, busy market with a lot of buyers. If you trade in Cairo, Alexandria, Giza, Tanta or Mansoura, you already know how competitive it is: customers compare prices on their phones, local suppliers raise prices without warning, and a product that sold well last season can be copied by three rivals within weeks.

That pressure pushes many traders and distributors to look overseas. A factory abroad might offer a better price, a wider range or a product nobody in your district stocks. But to import to Egypt well, you have to handle more than a price list. You need reliable suppliers, clear contracts, a payment method that does not put your cash at risk, a customs broker you trust, and a realistic view of timing and currency.

This guide is for traders, distributors, retailers and small factory owners who are new to importing, or who have done it a few times and want a more careful process. It covers each stage in order and is as useful if you buy from a marketplace, an agent or a trade fair. Throughout, one rule applies: Egyptian import rules and procedures are updated from time to time, so confirm current requirements with a licensed customs broker or the relevant authority before you pay for anything.

What to import to Egypt, and why

Begin with a short written brief. It should say what the product is, who will buy it, the price band your customers accept, the quantity you can sell in a quarter and the quality you need.

Egyptian buyers commonly source:

• Building materials, ceramics, bathroom fittings and electrical cable for the construction trade.
• Household goods, plastics, kitchenware and furniture.
• Packaging, raw materials and spare parts for local factories.
• Textiles, accessories and garment trims.
• Food ingredients and packaged goods, where regulation is stricter.
• Tools, hardware and auto parts.

Some of these categories involve standards, inspection or special approvals. Food, cosmetics, medical items, electrical equipment and children's products usually need extra care. If your product is regulated, learn the rules before you search for a supplier, not after.

Where to find overseas suppliers

You can find suppliers at trade fairs, through agents, via online marketplaces and through other traders' recommendations. Each route has strengths.

• Trade fairs let you see the product and meet the people, but travel is costly.
• Agents can inspect and negotiate on your behalf, but you must trust them as well as the factory.
• Marketplaces let you compare many suppliers quickly and keep a written record of conversations.
• Referrals from other importers are valuable, but still deserve independent checking.

On Comilmart you can browse suppliers by category, chat with them, request quotations and look for the Verified badge, which is awarded after a document review. What you find depends on what suppliers have listed. It is one option among several, and the checks in this guide apply whichever route you use.

How to check a supplier properly

A convincing website and polite emails prove very little. Run through these checks before you pay anything.

1. Ask for the company's registration details and confirm the name matches the quotation, invoice and bank account.
2. Request a live video call that shows the factory or warehouse, not only a showroom.
3. Ask for dated photos of current stock or production.
4. Request copies of certificates relevant to your product and ask what they cover.
5. Ask about previous exports, especially to the Middle East and Africa.
6. Compare quotations from several suppliers for the same specification.
7. Search for the company name together with words like "complaint" or "scam" and read what you find with a critical eye.

If the supplier resists video, avoids written terms or pushes you to pay quickly to "hold the price", step back. Real factories understand that a new buyer needs reassurance.

Samples, specifications and MOQ

Ask for a sample before you place any bulk order. Describe the specification in detail: dimensions, materials, tolerances, colour references, packaging, labelling and any marking you need. Test the sample in realistic conditions. If you are buying electrical goods, confirm the voltage, plug type and frequency suit Egypt.

MOQ (minimum order quantity) is often negotiable. For a first order, some factories will accept a smaller quantity at a higher unit price, or allow a mixed order. Ask about tiered pricing: a larger order may lower the unit price, but do not buy more than you can sell. Cash tied up in slow stock hurts more than a slightly higher unit cost.

If you are a distributor who wants a private label, ask about printing, packaging and minimums for custom branding. Request a pre-production sample before the full run.

Terms, Incoterms and your purchase agreement

Agree the commercial terms in writing, in a single document that both parties sign. A simple purchase agreement should include:

• Full names and addresses of buyer and seller.
• Exact product description, specification and quantity.
• Unit price, currency and total.
• Incoterm and named place.
• Payment schedule.
• Production and shipping dates.
• Quality standard and what happens if the goods do not match the sample.
• Documents the supplier will provide.
• How disputes will be handled.

Incoterms in plain language

Term	Plain meaning	Consider it when
EXW	You collect from the supplier's door and handle everything	You have an agent in the origin country
FOB	Supplier delivers to the ship at the origin port; you arrange the sea freight	You want control over freight and a clear price split
CIF	Supplier pays freight and insurance to the destination port; you handle clearing	You want a simpler number for a first order
DAP / DDP	Supplier delivers to a named place, with DDP including import duties	You want less handling, but check carefully who is paying what

Always name the port beside the term, for example "CIF Alexandria". For a first order, FOB or CIF is usually the easiest to compare.

Paying overseas suppliers without losing sleep

Payment is where importers most often get hurt. Common methods include bank transfer, letters of credit and documents against payment. Each shifts risk differently.

A bank transfer is simple, but once sent it is hard to recover. A letter of credit is a bank-backed promise to pay when the supplier presents the documents that match the credit's conditions; it protects both sides but costs money and needs careful drafting. Because of this, many small importers use a deposit with the balance paid against shipping documents.

Egyptian importers also face practical matters such as access to foreign currency and changes in the exchange rate, so talk to your bank early about how they will process the payment and what paperwork they require. Build a currency buffer into your costing.

Protect yourself with a few rules:

• Pay only into an account in the supplier's registered company name.
• Do not pay the full amount upfront to a new supplier.
• Keep every message, quotation and invoice.
• Consider protected payment, where funds are released after you confirm the goods. Comilmart's Trade Assurance page describes this in general terms; read it before relying on it for any order.

Shipping, documents and clearing in Egypt

Most sea cargo arrives through the Mediterranean ports of Alexandria, Port Said and Damietta, or the Red Sea and Suez Canal region ports such as Sokhna. Smaller or urgent shipments may come by air to Cairo. Your freight forwarder will advise which route suits your goods.

Documents you should expect include the commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading or air waybill, and certificate of origin where relevant, plus any product certificates. Egyptian import procedures may also involve advance cargo information requirements and registration of importers and exporters, and goods may be subject to inspection by the relevant authorities. These requirements are updated from time to time, so ask your customs broker exactly what is needed for your product and what your supplier must supply before the cargo is loaded. A mistake in the paperwork at origin can be costly to fix once the ship has sailed.

Work with a licensed customs broker from the start. Send the broker a clear product description and, if possible, a picture and a specification sheet so they can advise on classification, documents, duties and likely charges before you commit. Rules, fees and processing times change, so do not rely on figures you hear from other traders.

Pre-order checklist

1. Product confirmed, specification written and sample approved.
2. Supplier checked on registration, bank account name and references.
3. Customs broker has reviewed your product and listed the requirements.
4. Landed cost calculated, including freight, insurance, port charges, duties, taxes, broker fees and inland delivery.
5. Purchase agreement signed.
6. Payment method agreed and your bank informed.
7. Packaging and labelling confirmed.
8. Insurance arranged.

A worked example in words

A distributor in Cairo supplies bathroom fittings to small contractors and hardware shops. Local prices have crept up and his customers keep asking for a modern tap design he cannot find.

He writes down the exact tap style, finish, material and the packaging he wants, then posts a sourcing request and receives quotations from several overseas suppliers. He eliminates two that cannot show a factory video, then orders samples from the remaining two. He tests the finish, fits the taps on a sink and checks the thread sizes against what Egyptian plumbers use.

One supplier passes. He negotiates a first order of modest size on CIF Alexandria terms with a deposit and the balance against shipping documents. Before paying the deposit, he sends the specification to his customs broker, who tells him what documents the supplier must provide and gives an estimate of charges. He factors a currency buffer into his pricing and talks to his bank about the transfer.

The goods arrive at the port, the broker clears them, and he delivers to his customers. He checks the delivery against the approved sample, records the true landed cost, and decides on the next order with real numbers instead of guesses.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to be registered to import to Egypt?

Importers normally need to be registered with the relevant authorities, and the rules differ by business type. A licensed customs broker or a trade adviser can tell you what applies to you. Confirm current requirements before ordering.

What is the safest way to pay an overseas supplier?

No method is risk-free. A letter of credit or protected payment gives more safety than a full upfront transfer. At minimum, pay only to the supplier's registered account and keep payment tied to documents or delivery.

Can I import small quantities to Egypt?

Yes, through air freight or by sharing a container (LCL), though cost per unit is higher. It is a sensible way to test a new product.

Which ports do importers usually use?

Alexandria, Port Said, Damietta and Sokhna handle much of the sea cargo, with Cairo for air freight. Your forwarder will recommend the best fit for your goods.

How do I avoid fake or low-quality suppliers?

Check registration, ask for video proof, test samples, compare several quotations and use written contracts. Be cautious of prices far below the market.

Next step

If you want to import to Egypt with a clear process, begin with a small, well-checked order. Create a free buyer account, browse suppliers by category and post a sourcing request so suppliers can send quotations that you can compare side by side. Then read about buyer protection and speak to your customs broker before you pay a deposit.