Egypt posts $2.8 billion balance-of-payments surplus in FY 2025/2026

Egypt recorded a balance-of-payments surplus of 2.8 billion U.S. dollars in the 2025/2026 fiscal year, reversing a deficit of 2.1 billion dollars a year earlier, the Central Bank of Egypt said Monday. The capital and financial account posted a net inflow of 23.2 billion dollars during the fiscal year, up from 10.2 billion dollars a year earlier, including 18 billion dollars in net foreign direct investment and 4.2 billion dollars in net portfolio investment. Remittances from Egyptians abroad surged 29.6 percent to 47.3 billion dollars, while tourism revenues rose 10.3 percent to 18.4 billion dollars, and Suez Canal transit receipts increased 21.6 percent to 4.4 billion dollars. However, the current account deficit widened to 22.5 billion dollars from 15.4 billion dollars, driven by a larger merchandise trade deficit and investment income deficit. Economic researcher Abu Bakr al-Deeb said strong financial inflows helped improve Egypt's external position, but cautioned the surplus alone does not resolve external imbalances, stressing the need to strengthen export capacity and direct investment toward productive sectors.