Egypt will make its Advance Cargo Information (ACI) system mandatory for air shipments from 1 January following a successful trial, Finance Minister Ahmed Kouchuk announced. The pilot, which ran from 2022 until the end of December, produced positive results and won broad acceptance from the business community, the minister said. The compulsory rollout aims to give partners time to align procedures ahead of full implementation.
Egypt ACI system to accelerate customs clearance
The minister said the ACI trial at airports delivered measurable improvements in processing and compliance. By requiring pre-arrival registration of cargo, the system encourages importers and their agents to prepare documentation before goods reach Egyptian territory. That reduces waiting times at ports, cuts the costs of arranging paperwork abroad and lowers the risk of consignments being rejected on arrival for failing to meet specifications.
Kouchuk emphasised that the finance ministry is pursuing deeper digitalisation of customs procedures to strengthen trust with the private sector. He said reforms will simplify processes, reduce both the time and cost of customs release and help lower the burdens associated with imports and exports. Those changes are intended to enhance the competitiveness of the Egyptian economy and improve conditions for trade.
The minister pointed to close coordination with the investment and foreign trade ministry under Engineer Hassan El-Khatib. That cooperation aims to ease trade flows, shorten customs release times and reduce administrative and financial burdens on investors. Officials said these steps form part of a broader effort to support the investment climate and encourage smoother cross-border commerce.
Officials noted that the ACI system already operates reliably at maritime ports. Since its adoption, authorities have issued roughly 2.5 million customs release certificates for sea cargo, illustrating the platform’s stability and capacity to process large volumes. According to the ministry, the system has helped reduce costs associated with validating documents overseas and lessened the administrative load on businesses.
Beyond direct savings, the ACI system aims to improve import controls by preventing the entry of goods lacking clear provenance. That, in turn, helps raise the overall quality of products on Egyptian shelves and supports more accurate foreign-exchange planning by giving authorities clearer insight into incoming trade.
The ACI rollout is linked to the wider Nafitha electronic trade window, which the ministry says now spans all trade routes. Integration between Nafitha and the national e-invoicing system will reinforce governance and transparency across trade operations. Officials expect the combined platforms to accelerate customs declarations, expand use of pre-arrival clearance options and streamline supply chains.
Business groups welcomed the decision to transition from trial to mandatory status, noting the grace period allowed importers and logistics providers to adopt the new procedures. The government stressed that the phased approach aims to safeguard trade continuity while delivering the efficiency gains expected from digital customs reforms.
As the ACI requirement takes effect, Egypt is positioning its customs infrastructure to handle greater volumes more efficiently and with clearer oversight. Policymakers argue the measures will reduce costs for traders, strengthen compliance and support a more competitive trade environment as the country deepens its digital transformation.
Key Takeaways:
- The pilot Advance Cargo Information (ACI) system in Egyptian airports reported positive results and will become mandatory from 1 January.
- The move aims to speed customs clearance, lower documentation costs and reduce rejected shipments, strengthening trade competitiveness.
- Minister Ahmed Kouchuk highlighted coordination with the investment ministry and integration with the Nafitha platform and e-invoicing.
- Egypt ACI system issuance in maritime ports has already produced around 2.5 million customs release certificates, demonstrating operational stability.
