Shipping to Egypt From the US

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In Egypt, the average customer spends about $79 a year on consumer goods. And 72% of these buyers are making their purchases online. Clearly, the nation’s ecommerce market has come of age.

Whether it’s computer and electronics products or fashion items, the online shopping market in Egypt is growing. 

Are you looking for fast shipping and affordable options to the land of the Nile?


This guide provides information on how to ship a package from the US to Egypt, plus tips on how ecommerce brands can better plan international shipping logistics with ShipBob.

Cost & delivery speeds for shipping to Egypt from the US

Looking for the best way to ship to Egypt from the US? It’s likely your biggest concern is shipping costs and delivery speeds.

To make it easier for you to make your shipping decisions, below are details of parcel services to Egypt offered by the top four carriers.

We calculated the following rates using each carrier’s pricing calculators for a consistent example of a 2 lbs package in December 2021. Exact prices are subject to change. 

Note: These are general options for consumers shipping orders. To know what ShipBob offers when shipping to other countries like Egypt, please request a quote here.

ShipBob’s exact rates for customers will vary as we charge an all-in ‘total fulfillment cost’ that includes picking, packing, and shipping, among other factors. 

ServicePrice*Delivery Time
USPSFirst Class International$24.239-17 business days
USPSPriority Mail International$60.943-5 business days
USPSPriority Mail Express International$78.283-5 business days
UPSWorldwide Expedited$40.063-4 business days
UPSUPS Worldwide Saver$181.603-4 business days
DHLExpress Worldwide180.802-4 business days 

*USPS prices here reflect flat rate box shipping prices.

How to choose a shipping carrier

When formulating your shipping strategy, be sure to choose a carrier that balances the needs of your business with that of the customer. 

Depending on the size, type, and weight of your products and target audience, you could employ the services of one or more of these parcel companies:

Carriers

Pros

Cons

USPS
  • Most cost-effective
  • Offers a flat rate ideal for heavy and non-fragile shipments
  • Offers several drop-off points across the nation 
  • Does not charge a pickup fee 
  • Delivery on all six days, no extra charges for Saturday
  • Higher risk of last-mile delivery delays and shipment damage
  • Lacks effective last-mile tracking
FedEx
  • Guaranteed real-time order tracking and global customer care 
  • Free packaging of couriers
  • Fast and on-time delivery
  • Parcel pick-up is chargeable 
  • Drop off of couriers is not very convenient owing to smaller US-wide footprint
UPS
  • Several US-wide drop-off points 
  • Free customs clearance support
  • Effective last-mile tracking
  • Expensive shipping tariff 
  • Surcharges and other fees levied 
  • Pick-up service and Saturday delivery chargeable
DHL
  • Offers sustainable shipping options 
  • No pickup fees charged 
  • Insures your international shipments
  • Limited presence in the US makes it inconvenient for parcel drop offs
  • High shipping costs and surcharges

Shipping to Egypt from the US with USPS

USPS, was founded in 1971. This government agency has a significant US presence and ships to over 180 countries, including Egypt. They offer flat rate shipping that makes it easier to decipher how much it will cost to ship globally.

When to use USPS to ship from the US to Egypt

When you think of affordable shipping overseas, USPS is the first option that usually comes to mind. But, be wary of the fact that the carrier isn’t the most reliable and you might end up facing delivery delays.

Shipping to Egypt from the US with UPS

One of the largest global shipping and logistics companies, UPS is a reliable partner for your international shipping needs. It offers accurate last-mile delivery tracking and great deals on bulk shipments to Egypt.

When to use UPS to ship from the US to Egypt

UPS is a trusted logistics and supply chain management company. Unlike USPS, the UPS carrier offers a very efficient tracking system. But, it can get quite expensive to ship heavy items

Shipping to Egypt from the US with FedEx

Founded in 1973, with a presence in over 220 countries, FedEx is more expensive than the USPS but has pricing comparable to UPS and DHL. It insures your international shipments and also comes with great tracking capabilities. 

When to use FedEx to ship from the US to Egypt

FedEx is a great carrier for bulk shipping of orders, for the discounts it offers. If good customer service and tracking capabilities are very important to your business, then this is the carrier to choose. But, it doesn’t offer free package pickup services.

Shipping to Egypt from the US with DHL

DHL is an international shipping carrier of repute that is headquartered in Germany. It’s the logistics company of choice for businesses that care about sustainability.

When to use DHL to ship from the US to Egypt

While DHL is highly-regarded for its pedigree, being a division of the German logistics firm Deutsche Post. It is important to note though that the service provider charges significantly higher fees and has only a limited presence in the US.

Duties & taxes when shipping to Egypt from the US

You need to pay 14% tax on all goods that are imported into Egypt. Aside from that, certain products attract customs duties. 

Both VAT and customs duty is calculated on the value of the package, which is a sum of shipping price, the value of the content from the declaration, and insurance. These tariffs need to be paid in Egyptian Pounds.

Here is a list that indicates the kind of duties imposed on items that are commonly shipped into Egypt from overseas:

Custom Duty % Description 
30%Bags and luggage
0%Computer and laptops
30%Fashion
30%Home appliances
12%Sports and leisure

Egypt customs information

Even before the goods are shipped to the Egyptian ports, the merchant is required to share documents relating to the goods with the Customs Authority.

Then the shipment will be assigned an initial customs registration number or ACID. This number needs to be inserted into all shipment-related documents and then shipped onwards.

Once it reaches the ports, documents are inspected and duty and taxes are paid, the customs will clear the shipments for release.

It is important to note that commercial shipments valued over $2,000 require specific import documents such as Certificate of Origin (COO) and letter of authorization.

To find out more about the country’s customs department here is a link to their website.

Prohibited items when shipping to Egypt

Before deciding to cater to customers in Egypt, ensure that you are aware of what items are banned from entry into the country. Else, you may be subject to painful customs delays and even legal repercussions. 

On that note, remember, personal shipments that are of value $2,000 or more are not allowed into Egypt.

Items you can’t ship to Egypt from the US

Drugs
Weapons
Cotton
Hazardous waste
Ivory
Products derived from birds

The list of prohibited and restricted items keeps changing, so be sure to check the latest Egypt custom regulations before shipping finished goods.

What ecommerce businesses need to know about shipping to Egypt

Clearly, there is immense untapped ecommerce opportunity in Egypt for international merchants to tap into.

To help your business achieve high growth in this new market, here are a few things for you to keep in mind:

1. Offer multiple payment options

80% of ecommerce in Egypt is conducted on a cash-on-delivery basis. Hence, to include all kinds of shoppers, your ecommerce portal must allow for payment via credit and debit card, net banking, and cash on delivery.

2. Have a localized social media presence

Most Egyptians discover new sellers via social media platforms such as Facebook (83%) and Instagram (43%). Therefore to become more discoverable to your target market in Egypt, you must have a customized social media presence that is sure to attract these buyers.

3. Offer live order tracking

Egyptian customers will not stick by your brand if their orders are delayed or lost in transit. Hence, when you choose a carrier, make sure that they offer live tracking of shipments to both customers and merchants.


 

Outsource shipping and logistics to a 3PL like ShipBob

To offer customers across the world a remarkable brand experience, consider partnering with an international 3PL like ShipBob.

Selling internationally can be challenging, time-consuming, and costly. But with ShipBob, you’re given everything you need to serve customers across the globe while saving time on logistics. 

We not only take care of picking, packing, and shipping your orders to Egypt, we also offer upfront fulfillment costs that include customs, duties, and additional taxes.

By partnering with ShipBob, you eliminate the need to manage retail fulfillment, logistics operations, and hire labor.

Working with ShipBob can actually turn logistics and warehousing into a revenue driver because you can increase sales and offer the shipping options, transit times, and delivery speeds that customers want.

The best part about partnering with ShipBob is you get time back to focus on more strategic initiatives, such as customer service and marketing.

“By distributing our inventory across these countries and regions, all of our customers are able to get their orders much faster while paying reasonable domestic shipping rates.

We want to continue to spread our brand internationally and are glad that more of our customer base can get better shipping rates and delivery times. We’re still a small operation, but with ShipBob we can be a more global company.”

Wes Brown, Head of Operations at Black Claw LLC


Ready to start shipping to Egypt from the US? Get started with ShipBob. 

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Shipping to Egypt FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions people have when shipping packages from the United States to Egypt.

What’s the cheapest way to ship to Egypt from the US?

USPS Priority Mail International is one of the cheapest ways to ship a regular package from the US to Egypt.

What’s the cheapest way to ship large packages to Egypt from the US?

For large and heavy packages that need to be shipped from the US to Egypt, we recommend that you opt for USPS’ affordable fixed-rate services. 

What’s the fastest way to ship a package to Egypt from the US?

FedEx International Priority will ensure that your packages are delivered to Egypt in just 1 to 3 business days.

Do I have to pay customs duties and fees when shipping to Egypt from the US?

For shipments that are sent to Egypt from the US you need to pay customs duty and 14% VAT.

What’s the easiest way to ship something to Egypt from the US?

Carriers like FedEx and UPS offer some of the easiest and most convenient ways to ship orders from the US to Egypt. Both have a significant presence in the US for easy drop-offs and they offer easy tracking of orders.