Greenfield investments by foreign companies in the Egyptian oil and mineral resources sector rose to $6.7 billion during fiscal year (FY) 2025/26, up from $6.2 billion a year earlier, according to the Central Bank of Egypt’s (CBE) balance of payments (BoP) report.

Meanwhile, net sector foreign direct investment (FDI) stood at $190.2 million, down from $598.3 million, as cost recovery outflows climbed to $6.5 billion, up from $5.6 billion a year earlier. This increase in outflows highlights accelerated cost repatriation for historical exploration, field development, and operational costs.

The increase in oil-sector investment inflows comes as Egypt seeks to raise domestic hydrocarbon production, attract international oil companies (IOCs), and reduce its reliance on imported petroleum and natural gas.

This investment momentum expands to oil and gas. Egypt has secured more than $19 billion in investment commitments from international oil companies over the next three years. The pledged investments include $8 billion from Italy’s Eni, $5 billion from bp, $4 billion from US Apache Corporation, and $2 billion from the UAE’s Arcius Energy.

Meanwhile, petroleum exports rose 18.1% to about $6.6 billion in FY2025/26. A $1.2 billion rise in petroleum product exports and an additional $206 million in natural gas exports supported the increase. However, crude oil exports declined by $350.6 million because of lower export volumes.

On the import side, petroleum imports rose by 27.6% to $24.9 billion. The increase was driven by higher purchases of natural gas and crude oil. Natural gas imports rose by $4.7 billion, while crude oil imports increased by $1.9 billion, largely reflecting higher imported volumes. In contrast, petroleum product imports declined by approximately $1.2 billion as import volumes fell.

The developments coincided with elevated global oil prices amid disruptions to Middle Eastern supply routes. According to the US Energy Information Administration’s October 2026 Short-Term Energy Outlook, the Brent crude oil spot price averaged $114 per barrel in September, up $23 from August. The agency attributed the increase to attacks on oil infrastructure and tankers in the region, including disruptions to Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline, which temporarily interrupted a key route for exporting crude oil.