The Central Bank of Egypt announced a cumulative $20.3 billion increase in net foreign assets for the Egyptian banking sector throughout 2025. This surge was driven by an improved external economic position and favorable exchange rate developments.
The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) announced on Sunday that net foreign assets (NFA) in the Egyptian banking sector rose by a cumulative $20.3 billion throughout 2025. According to the CBE's monetary policy report, the sector's total NFA increased by $4.7 billion in the final quarter of 2025, reaching $25.5 billion in December, up from $20.8 billion in September. This marks the highest level since July 2012.
The central bank's own NFA climbed for the eighth consecutive month, hitting $15.1 billion in January 2026—the highest since September 2021—following $13.3 billion in December 2025. The CBE partly attributed this growth to rising global gold prices.
Commercial banks also recorded a notable rise, with their NFA up $2.4 billion to $12.2 billion in December 2025, the highest since February 2014. This was supported by increased foreign currency resources, including remittances from Egyptians abroad and higher foreign investment in Egyptian government debt instruments.
The CBE noted that the overall upward trend in foreign assets aligns with improvements in Egypt's external economic situation and exchange rate developments since April 2025.