How much is USD to Egyptian Pound (EGP) on the black market?

Egypt’s currency the Egyptian Pound (EGP) has been declining in value against major foreign currencies led by the US dollar (USD) since 2022, in the wake of post-Covid 19 reopening of major economies and the Ukraine war that triggered an inflationary wave pushing interest rates up and reshoring foreign investments back into the developed economies. In the meantime, Egypt’s allies in the oil-rich Gulf have stopped unconditionally bailing out Cairo.

There is more than one value of the Egyptian pound; one official set by the Central Bank of Egypt and another on the parallel ‘black market’, similar to the situation in Lebanon. The parallel market reflects the true value of foreign currencies in the hands of ordinary Egyptians, who do not have easy access to the official value of the currency usually reserved for major companies, and importers and exporters.

Like in Lebanon, informal websites and apps have emerged tracking the value of the Egyptian pound against foreign currencies in the parallel market, updated around the clock. As of 7 February, 2024, the official rate for USD/EGP is between 30.8 and 30.9 EGP; while on the parallel market it is 62.5-63.5 EGP for the dollar, little more than double the official rate.

The Egyptian pound has been struggling against the US dollar for months, leading prices of essential commodities to hike in a country primarily dependent on importation rather than local production.

Egypt’s initial agreement with the IMF dictated that the country would benefit from a US$3 billion loan over 46 months, provided that state and military control over the economy are loosened and an exchange rate flexibility is imposed, allowing market forces to determine the value of the local currency.

In recent months, thousands of citizens resorted to purchasing gold to preserve the value of their savings in local currency, which led the prices of the precious yellow metal to skyrocket.

Egypt has encountered an enormous financing gap surpassing US$8 billion for the fiscal year 2023/2024, which could amount to over US$20 billion in four years. The country’s external debt soared by 5.1 per cent during the fourth quarter of 2022, reaching US$162.94 billion, a total of US$10 billion more than the previous quarter.