Printed books exports from Egypt: data, top buyers and prices
Exports of printed books by Egypt reached $37.0 million in 2024 (11.0 thousand tonnes). That is 23% less than in 2023. Over 2017-2024 the trade grew strongly, by about 9% a year on average. The peak in this period was 2023, at $48.3 million.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
Exports by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $37.0M | 11.0K t |
| 2023 | $48.3M | 8.8K t |
| 2022 | $35.9M | 9.3K t |
| 2021 | $18.7M | 9.0K t |
| 2020 | $12.6M | 5.9K t |
| 2019 | $16.6M | 6.9K t |
| 2018 | $12.2M | 5.0K t |
| 2017 | $20.3M | 5.9K t |
Where Egypt exports printed books to
The largest buyer markets were Libya (27%), Saudi Arabia (11%), Morocco (9%). Trade is spread widely: the top three buyer markets together make up only 47%. Among the main buyer markets, Qatar grew fastest (+83% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Libya | $9.8M | 27% |
| Saudi Arabia | $4.2M | 12% |
| Morocco | $3.2M | 8.8% |
| Netherlands | $3.1M | 8.3% |
| Yemen | $3.0M | 8.2% |
| Algeria | $2.7M | 7.3% |
| United Arab Emirates | $2.2M | 5.8% |
| Indonesia | $887K | 2.4% |
| Qatar | $804K | 2.2% |
| Kuwait | $703K | 1.9% |
Product types under HS 4901
| 4901.99 | Printed matter: books, brochures, leaflets and similar printed matter n.e.c. in item no. 4901.10 or 4901.91 | 79% |
| 4901.10 | Printed matter: in single sheets, whether or not folded | 21% |
| 4901.91 | Printed matter: dictionaries, encyclopaedias and serial instalments thereof | 0.1% |
Codes and full descriptions: HS heading 4901.
Average export price per kg
The average declared value was about $3.36 per kg, 64% below the world average of $9.39, which often means bulk or lower-grade product.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Printed books imports to Egypt
Imports of printed books by Egypt reached $27.0 million in 2024 (2.7 thousand tonnes). The largest suppliers were United Kingdom (28%), Russia (15%), China (11%). Among the main suppliers, China grew fastest (+342% on the year before).
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | $7.6M | 28% |
| Russia | $4.1M | 15% |
| China | $3.0M | 11% |
| United States | $1.7M | 6.2% |
| Saudi Arabia | $1.6M | 5.9% |
| Lebanon | $1.5M | 5.6% |
| France | $1.2M | 4.6% |
| Germany | $1.2M | 4.4% |
| United Arab Emirates | $1.0M | 3.7% |
| Greece | $870K | 3.2% |
Who is behind these numbers in Egypt?
Public statistics stop at country totals and the last published year. EximDataX shows the shipment records underneath: the companies, dates, quantities and declared values, updated weekly.
Shipment records are in the platform
Tell us what you trade and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
Mirror data: built from the shipment records of the countries that trade with it.
Updated weekly on EximDataX (some markets daily), while public statistics stop at 2024.
Source: CEPII BACI (reconciled UN Comtrade data), HS 2017 edition, release 202601, Etalab Open Licence 2.0. Annual values in US dollars at the customs border; quantities in tonnes where reported. HS 4901: Printed books, brochures, leaflets and similar printed matter, whether or not in single sheets.
Common questions
What is the value of printed books exported by Egypt?
Egypt exported printed books worth $37.0 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 11.0 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 42nd of 223 countries worldwide, with 0% of world exports. The value was down 23% on 2023.
Which countries buy printed books from Egypt?
Libya was the largest buyer with 27% of the value ($9.8 million), followed by Saudi Arabia (11%) and Morocco (9%). The top three together account for 47%, out of 114 buyer countries in total. Qatar grew fastest among the top ten, up 83% on the year.
What is the average export price of printed books per kg?
The average declared export value was about $3.36 per kg in 2024, 64% below the world average of $9.39 per kg. It is total declared value divided by total weight, so it blends every grade and size; use it as a benchmark, not a quote. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
How have exports of printed books from Egypt changed since 2017?
Exports went from $20.3 million in 2017 to $37.0 million in 2024, an increase of 82%. The peak was 2023 at $48.3 million. Monthly and weekly movements since then are in EximDataX.
Does Egypt also import printed books?
Yes. Egypt imported $27.0 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly from the United Kingdom, Russia and China. On balance Egypt is a net exporter of this product, by about $10.0 million a year.
What is the HS code for printed books?
The HS code for printed books is heading 4901. In Egypt the largest six-digit codes were 4901.99 (79% of the value) and 4901.10 (21%). It sits in HS chapter 49 (printed books, newspapers, pictures and other products of the printing industry; manuscripts, typescripts and plans). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 4901 page.
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
Public statistics stop at country totals. EximDataX rebuilds Egypt trade from the customs records of its trading partners, updated weekly, so you can see the companies that ship to and from it. Tell us your product and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
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