In most countries a documentary gap can be repaired after the goods arrive. In Egypt there is one step that allows no such repair: the ACID number. It is issued in advance on the NAFEZA single window, tied to the shipment before it leaves China, and it must appear on the shipping documents. A consignment that sails without a valid ACID risks being refused processing at the port and returned at the importer's expense. So in Egypt the work starts at the desk, not at the factory.
What is the ACID number and why is it the most important step?
ACID stands for Advance Cargo Information Declaration. The Egyptian importer applies for it on NAFEZA before shipping, and a number is issued that belongs to that specific consignment. It is then sent to the Chinese supplier to be shown on the invoice, bill of lading and the rest of the documents. The purpose is that shipment data and documents reach customs electronically before the goods themselves, so assessment and verification start early. In practice this means your schedule must leave real space between issuing the ACID and the sailing date rather than chasing the vessel.
What is the order of steps between importer and supplier?
| Stage | Responsible party | Timing | Output |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registration on NAFEZA | Egyptian importer | Once, before the first shipment | An active platform account |
| Applying for the shipment ACID | Egyptian importer | Well before shipping | An ACID number for that consignment |
| Sending the number to the supplier | Importer | As soon as issued | Number carried on the documents |
| Electronic document submission | Chinese supplier | Before sailing | Document file linked to the ACID |
| Reviewing and accepting documents | Importer | Before sailing | A complete, consistent file |
| Shipping, arrival and clearance | Agent and broker | After the above is complete | Customs release |
This order is not an organisational preference but an operational condition: any step taken out of place moves its cost to the port.
Does the Chinese factory need to be registered in Egypt?
For many categories, yes. The General Organization for Export and Import Control (GOEIC) requires factories or brand owners to be entered in a dedicated register before their products can be imported, applying to defined lists of goods that typically include consumer products, textiles, household appliances and others. Registration is the responsibility of the factory or brand owner, requires a file of documents and certificates, and can take considerable time. The question to put to your Chinese supplier in the first conversation is whether the factory is registered for this category. Ask for evidence, and never build an import plan on a promise to register later. Check the current category lists with your broker, as they are updated by official decision.
Which Egyptian port suits your shipment?
- Alexandria and the El Dekheila terminal: the largest on the Mediterranean, serving Cairo and the Delta.
- Damietta: convenient for the eastern Delta, with an active container terminal.
- Port Said: at the northern entrance to the Suez Canal, strong in transhipment services.
- Ain Sokhna: on the Red Sea, closest to Greater Cairo and the industrial areas east of the capital, and sometimes offering a shorter transit from Asia because it does not require a canal transit.
Indicative transit from the main Chinese ports usually runs between 20 and 35 days depending on the port, the service and transhipment calls, with groupage adding a week or more. Choose the port on the basis of your warehouse location and inland transport cost, because the road difference between Sokhna and Alexandria can reverse the whole comparison.
How much are duties and taxes?
Egyptian customs duty varies by tariff heading with no single unified rate; some production inputs sit at low rates while finished goods are higher. VAT at a general rate of 14 percent is added, with categories treated differently, alongside port charges and service fees. Also factor in the effect of the exchange rate applied in customs valuation on your final landed cost. Ask your broker for a written estimate against your HS code before contracting with the factory.
What should you check with your bank?
Import financing in Egypt runs through the bank using instruments such as documentary collection or a letter of credit depending on the case, and foreign currency requirements and import-related banking procedures can change by decision of the competent authorities. Do not rely on the experience of a previous shipment. Confirm with your bank before contracting which instrument is required, what documents it will ask for, and how long the transfer is expected to take. Then align the payment terms in your contract with the Chinese factory to what your bank can actually execute, because this is one of the most common friction points between importer and supplier.
Checklist for importing into Egypt
- Activate your NAFEZA account well ahead of the first shipment.
- Confirm the factory or brand owner is registered with GOEIC if your category is covered, and ask for evidence.
- Fix the HS code and obtain a written estimate of duty and VAT.
- Issue the ACID number before shipping and send it to the supplier in writing.
- Verify the ACID appears on the invoice, bill of lading and other documents before sailing.
- Review the payment instrument and transfer requirements with your bank before signing the proforma.
- Choose the port on total inland cost rather than ocean freight alone.
- Run a pre-shipment inspection, insure the cargo, and arrange clearance and haulage before arrival.
Practical summary
Reduce your Egypt plan to a single sentence: never let a shipment sail without a valid ACID number and, where registration is required, a registered factory. After that the rest is ordinary management of cost and time. The rules, lists, rates and transit times described here can change by official decision, so verify them with the official authorities, your bank and your shipping agent at the time of shipping. On the origin side, ALSHUMUL Trading Services in Guangzhou coordinates the factory, inspection and document control so the file matches the shipment requirements before loading.
