An Egyptian buyer discusses the purchase of plush toys at Yiwu International Trade Market in Jinhua, Zhejiang province, on July 18, 2026. [Photo/IC]

Zhejiang has maintained the largest trade volume with Egypt among China's provincial-level regions in recent years, according to Hangzhou Customs.

Zhejiang's imports and exports with Egypt rose from 18.15 billion yuan ($2.70 billion) in 2016 to 38.23 billion yuan in 2025, representing average annual growth of 8.6 percent.

In the first seven months of this year, Zhejiang's trade with Egypt reached 24.83 billion yuan, up 14.5 percent year-on-year and accounting for 26.1 percent of China's total trade with the country. Egypt has become an important African market for Zhejiang.

Imports have also grown rapidly. A zero-tariff policy for all 53 African countries with diplomatic ties to China took effect on May 1.

In the first seven months, Zhejiang's agricultural imports from Egypt rose 98.9 percent year-on-year. Imports of flax, an important raw material for Zhejiang's textile industry, jumped 140 percent.