What this article measures
This comparison uses merchandise exports plus merchandise imports. It does not measure GDP, domestic demand, metals consumption, addressable market or profit. It is a simple way to compare the scale of cross-border goods flows on a consistent 2024 basis.
The country scope is Egypt plus three selected Middle East markets: the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Oman. It is not a total for every country in the Middle East.
2024 headline figures
- Egypt: exports US$42.247 billion; imports US$85.986 billion; two-way merchandise trade US$128.233 billion.
- United Arab Emirates: exports US$429.4301 billion; imports US$444.6502 billion; two-way total US$874.0803 billion.
- Saudi Arabia: exports US$305.4994 billion; imports US$232.8063 billion; two-way total US$538.3057 billion.
- Oman: exports US$65.0623 billion; imports US$43.4665 billion; two-way total US$108.5288 billion.
The arithmetic total for the four markets is approximately US$1.649 trillion. Again, that is a sum of exports and imports, not a regional market-size claim.
Egypt: a large import side and a strategic location
The UNCTAD General Profile for Egypt reports 2024 merchandise exports of US$42.247 billion and estimated imports of US$85.986 billion, leaving a merchandise balance of minus US$43.739 billion. The two-way total is US$128.233 billion.
For a metals company, this does not automatically mean US$128.233 billion of metal demand. It shows the scale of Egypt's overall goods-trade system. Product decisions still need HS-level import data, buyer qualification, local standards, port choice, foreign-exchange and payment review, and the exact technical requirement.
A newer directional signal appears in the WTO Egypt profile: for 2025, copper wire under HS 740811 is listed at US$775.9 million and 1.5% of Egypt's merchandise exports. This 2025 line should not be mixed into the 2024 total above; it is presented separately as a product-level observation.
UAE: the largest trade turnover in this group
The WTO trade profile for the UAE reports 2024 merchandise exports of US$429.4301 billion and imports of US$444.6502 billion. The two-way total of US$874.0803 billion is about 53% of the combined four-market figure in this article.
High total trade does not say which metal product will sell. It does show the importance of re-export, logistics, finance and multi-market distribution in the commercial environment. A metal RFQ still needs the final destination, required origin documents, technical standard, packing and whether the UAE is the consuming market or a trade hub in the route.
Saudi Arabia: a large goods-trade base
The WTO Saudi Arabia profile reports 2024 exports of US$305.4994 billion and imports of US$232.8063 billion, giving a two-way total of US$538.3057 billion.
For metals, the useful next step is sector and project analysis rather than a conclusion from the national total. Construction products, industrial inputs, electrical materials and manufacturing feedstocks each have different buyer groups, standards, approvals and delivery patterns.
Oman: smaller total, visible metals signals
The WTO Oman profile reports 2024 exports of US$65.0623 billion and imports of US$43.4665 billion, for a two-way total of US$108.5288 billion.
The profile also shows why HS-level data matter. Non-agglomerated iron ore under HS 260111 is listed at US$1.1395 billion and 2.6% of Oman's merchandise imports. On the export side, the profile reports agglomerated iron ores at US$1.7563 billion, reinforcing bar at US$680.1 million and aluminium at US$577.6 million. These are reported trade lines, not proof of an available offer or a buyer for a new transaction.
How to use the numbers in a metal-trade decision
- Start with national trade scale. It tells you whether you are looking at a large hub, a large consuming/importing system or a smaller but specialized market.
- Move to HS-level data. Check the exact product form; copper cathode, wire rod, scrap and brass should not be combined under one broad assumption.
- Check direction. Import demand and export capacity answer different questions.
- Confirm the buyer and end use. National data do not replace customer qualification or specification review.
- Add route and payment reality. Destination port, delivery basis, documents, inspection and settlement route can change whether a transaction is practical.
Data notes and limits
Egypt's 2024 values come from UNCTAD's General Profile, where the 2024 import figure is marked as an estimate. UAE, Saudi Arabia and Oman values come from their WTO Tariff & Trade Data profiles. Totals in this article are arithmetic calculations from the reported export and import values. Rounding may create small differences.
The figures are nominal U.S. dollar merchandise values. They do not adjust for inflation, value added, re-exports or the domestic share of goods. They should be used as a starting point for research, not as a forecast or investment recommendation.
