THE Central Bank of Egypt announced yesterday that the country’s net international reserves rose to $49.25 billion in August 2025, up from $49.04bn in July – a monthly increase of about $214 million.
Gold holdings recorded the sharpest growth, climbing to $14.09bn in August from $13.64bn the previous month, an increase of $449m.
In contrast, foreign currency reserves edged down by $94m to $35.12bn, while Special Drawing Rights fell by $140m to $43m.
Since the start of 2025, Egypt’s foreign reserves have expanded by roughly $2.14bn, compared to $47.11bn at the close of 2024.
The reserves consist of a diversified basket of major international currencies – including the US dollar, euro, British pound, Japanese yen, and Chinese yuan – allocated in line with the CBE’s strategy to reflect global market stability and currency strength.
According to the central bank, the primary function of these reserves – comprising both gold and foreign currencies – is to finance essential imports, service external debt, and provide a buffer against economic shocks, particularly during periods of weaker foreign currency inflows from tourism, remittances, and Suez Canal revenues.