Egypt’s banking sector recorded a sharp increase in net foreign assets (NFA) in June 2026, with the balance rising to $27.965bn, equivalent to EGP 1.378trn, up from $22.9bn, or EGP 1.198trn, in May, according to data released by the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE).
The increase came as the Egyptian pound strengthened against the US dollar, with the exchange rate improving from EGP 52.3297 per dollar in May to EGP 49.2763 in June.
According to the CBE, the banking sector’s total foreign assets—including those of the Central Bank and commercial banks—stood at the equivalent of EGP 4.939trn in June, compared with EGP 4.989trn in May.
Meanwhile, total foreign liabilities fell to the equivalent of EGP 3.591trn, down from EGP 3.790trn a month earlier, contributing to the improvement in the sector’s net foreign asset position.
Net foreign assets are widely regarded as one of the key indicators of the strength and resilience of the banking sector. They represent the difference between the banking system’s total foreign assets and foreign currency liabilities, providing an indication of its capacity to meet external obligations and support stability in the foreign exchange market.
Foreign assets held by the banking sector include foreign currency deposits and savings, gold holdings, foreign securities, and Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), while foreign liabilities comprise repayable external debt, deposits belonging to foreign entities, and import-related obligations.
