Import clothing from China to Egypt
Indicative duty ~35% (HS 61 / 62). Work out the all-in landed cost below.
China to Egypt, all-in
Indicative, not a quote. Duty bands, FX and freight are estimates sampled 2026-06-07. Confirm the exact HS duty with Egypt customs and freight with a forwarder.
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Today's yuan to Egypt rate
Indicative, not a quote. The band is typical of agent/payment pricing.
| CNY | At mid rate | What you actually pay |
|---|---|---|
| ¥1,000 | £E7,487 | £E8,160 |
| ¥10,000 | £E74,865 | £E81,603 |
| ¥100,000 | £E748,654 | £E816,033 |
The FX leg is often the difference between a profitable order and a loss. The mid-market rate is the reference; what you actually pay to settle into a Chinese supplier's account sits 3–9% above it. On a large payment that spread can outweigh the agent fee, so it is worth comparing rates the day you pay.
Worked example: Clothing to Egypt
For a typical clothing order into Egypt — 800 units at ¥34 each (200 kg, sea freight) — the duty falls in the 35% band, on top of which sit 14% VAT. That lands at roughly £E369,120, or £E461 per unit (~$8), an effective burden near 54% of the CIF value. Against a local retail of £E783 to £E1,306, gross margin runs about 65-41%. This order Egypt has no de-minimis, so any value pays full duty.
A realistic order: 800 units at ¥34 each (200 kg, 1.2 CBM, sea).
Is it worth importing?
At a landed £E450 per unit, against a typical local retail of £E764 to £E1,273, gross margin is roughly 65-41%. Indicative; real retail varies by market and channel.
QC check. Check fabric weight (GSM), stitch density and that the size chart matches your market's bodies, not China's; pull a wash test for colour-fastness and shrinkage.
Apparel is a finished consumer good and a protected domestic industry in most markets, so it usually sits at or near the top duty band.
HS classification trap. Knitted (HS 61) and woven (HS 62) garments are separate chapters, and fibre composition shifts the rate; a polyester/cotton blend can be dutied differently from pure cotton.
Indicative, not a quote. Example inputs are typical for the product class; duty and FX sampled 2026-06-07.
Buying clothing on 1688
Typical 1688 search terms: women dress, t-shirt, hoodie, leggings. Finished apparel high band (~30-40%). Verify exact HS via ECA. Sourced 2026-06-07.
All Egypt categories →Frequently asked questions
What duty applies to clothing in Egypt?
Indicative duty for clothing is about 35% (HS hint HS 61 / 62). With Egypt's VAT and levy stack the effective burden is roughly 54%. Verify the exact rate with Egyptian Customs Authority (ECA).
What does clothing cost to import from China?
It depends on unit price, quantity, agent fee and freight. Use the calculator above for an all-in landed cost in EGP.
What should I search for on 1688?
Common terms for this category: women dress, t-shirt, hoodie, leggings. Pair these with a sourcing agent if you cannot read Chinese.
Are these numbers official?
No. Duty, FX and freight here are indicative estimates sampled 2026-06-07. Confirm with Egyptian Customs Authority (ECA) and a forwarder before paying.
Last updated: 2026-06-07.
Karim covers the Egypt–China trade route with a focus on the two things that make it hard: customs and currency. He explains how ECA duties and the 14% VAT stack on a real order, why Egypt's ACI/Nafeza pre-clearance and Arabic-labelling rules catch importers out, and how the pound's managed float and FX controls shape the way money actually reaches a supplier in Yiwu or Guangzhou. He has followed Egypt's import-trade scene through successive rounds of currency reform.