Egypt ahead of schedule on export support payments

The two instalments, worth a combined EGP 12.6 billion, form part of the government's plan to pay 50 percent of outstanding dues owed to exporters in cash.

The first instalment, worth EGP 5.3 billion, was disbursed during the 2025/2026 fiscal year, which ended on 30 June, while the second amounted to EGP 7.3 billion, according to Nevine Mansour, the finance minister's adviser for economic institutions.

Egypt's export support and rebate programme was launched in 2019 to settle outstanding dues owed to exporters through direct cash payments from the Export Development Fund. The programme provides exporters with liquidity to sustain and expand production and exports.

The remaining 50 percent of the arrears will be settled through a clearing mechanism, allowing companies to offset amounts owed by the government against debts they owe to state entities, including the tax and customs authorities.

The government had planned to pay half of the outstanding dues over four years, starting in the 2025/2026 fiscal year, but managed to accelerate the process.

Kouchouk said the faster payments would help boost exports, describing them as a key pillar of improving the economy's competitiveness, maintaining financial stability, and improving the business climate. 

"This confirms the private sector's ability to grow, compete, expand production, and create jobs. Together, we will exert every effort to build a more competitive economy and more diversified and sustainable exports," he said.

The measures support the government's goal of increasing annual exports to $115.8 billion by 2030 and raising non-oil exports by 15–20 percent annually through 2030.

In June 2025, the Ministry of Finance said it will disburse around EGP 25 billion to about 2,400 companies during FY2025/2026 through four banks.

The payments formed part of a broader plan under the FY2025/2026 budget, which allocated EGP 44.5 billion of a total EGP 78.1 billion earmarked to support exports, industry, and the settlement of outstanding obligations.

Egypt has paid EGP 70 billion to exporters over the past six years and aims to settle all outstanding payments within two years.

The government also paid EGP 28 billion in export support during the 2025/2026 fiscal year, up 55 percent from a year earlier.

The 2026/2027 budget allocates EGP 48 billion to reimburse exporters and support exports of goods and services.