Car, Boat & Heavy Equipment Shipping to Egypt
Seaway Export ships from Savannah, New York / New Jersey, and other ports to Alexandria, Damietta, and other ports in 18–30 days port to port, with weekly sailings on the main lane and rates from $2,000.
Weekly sailings to Alexandria, Damietta, and Ain Sokhna with full Egyptian customs guidance. Cars must be current or previous model year — but machinery ships unrestricted and EVs get the best treatment in North Africa.
Egypt at a Glance
Space available- Shipping from
- $2,000+
- Ocean transit
- 18–24 days (East Coast)
- Arrival ports
- Alexandria · Damietta · Ain Sokhna
- Import duty + VAT
- High duty by engine + 14% VAT
- Electric vehicles
- 0% customs duty
No obligation · Response within 1 business day
Shipping to Egypt: What You Need to Know
Egypt is the largest vehicle market in North Africa, but it plays by a strict rule: imported passenger cars must be from the current or immediately previous model year — effectively new or near-new units only. Alexandria handles the bulk of the trade, Damietta serves the Delta, and Ain Sokhna covers Cairo and the Red Sea corridor via the Suez approach. Our team verifies model-year eligibility per VIN before anything is booked.
The cost structure rewards the right cargo. Combustion cars pay steep duty that escalates with engine size — roughly 40% up to 1.6L and far more above it — plus 14% VAT. Fully electric vehicles, by contrast, enter at 0% customs duty, and machinery and industrial equipment ship with no model-year restriction at low duty bands. That is why EVs, generators, and construction equipment dominate our Egypt bookings.
Key takeaway
Passenger cars must be current or previous model year — verify before buying. EVs pay 0% customs duty versus 40%+ for gas cars, and machinery ships unrestricted. Budget 14% VAT on top of any duty.
Shipping Routes & Transit Times to Egypt
| U.S. Departure Port | Arrival Port | Ocean Transit | Sailing Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York / New Jersey | Alexandria | 18–24 days | Weekly |
| Savannah, GA | Alexandria | 20–26 days | Weekly |
| Baltimore, MD | Damietta | 19–25 days | Bi-weekly |
| Houston, TX | Ain Sokhna | 24–30 days | Bi-weekly |
Transit times are port-to-port estimates and exclude export clearance and customs processing.
Shipping to Egypt from the Port of Savannah
Seaway Export is headquartered at the Port of Savannah, Georgia — one of the fastest-growing container ports in the United States and our primary export gateway. We run regular sailings from Savannah to Egypt, backed by departures from New York/New Jersey, Houston, and Los Angeles/Long Beach, so we can route your cargo on the lane that reaches Egypt fastest and at the best price.
Cars, SUVs, pickups & classic vehicles — container or RoRo
Boats, yachts & personal watercraft — cradled or lift-on/lift-off
Heavy equipment & machinery — flat rack, breakbulk or RoRo
What It Costs to Ship to Egypt
Indicative per-unit rates from U.S. ports. Your exact rate depends on vehicle dimensions, departure region, and current vessel space.
| Service | Typical Rate | What to Know | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared container (consolidated) | $2,000 – $2,800 | Budget-friendly, waits for consolidation | Standard sedans & SUVs |
| Dedicated 20ft container | $3,200 – $4,400 | Fastest loading, single vehicle | High-value or classic cars |
| Dedicated 40ft container | $4,300 – $6,000 | Fits 2 vehicles or vehicle + cargo | Pairs, dealer lots |
| RoRo (roll-on / roll-off) | Custom quote | Drive-on service, no container | Running vehicles, trucks, machinery |
| Flat rack / breakbulk | Custom quote | For oversized & non-running units | Heavy equipment, boats |
Rates shown are indicative ranges from the U.S. East Coast and are confirmed at booking.
Rates move with fuel surcharges and season. Get today's exact rate for your vehicle in under 1 hour.
Price My ShipmentEgypt Import Duties & Taxes
| Category | Import Duty | VAT / Tax | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cars ≤1.6L (new/near-new) | 40% | 14% | Current/previous model year only |
| Cars >1.6L (new/near-new) | 135% | 14% | + schedule tax by engine |
| Electric vehicles | 0% | 14% | Most favorable category |
| Heavy machinery & equipment | 0–5% | 14% | No model-year restriction |
| Motorcycles | 30% | 14% | Engine size dependent |
Indicative rates for general guidance — final assessment is made by customs at arrival. Our team confirms the exact landed cost before you book.
Documents You'll Need
- Original vehicle title (Certificate of Title) — lien-free
- Bill of sale or commercial invoice
- Copy of passport or government ID
- U.S. AES export filing (we handle this)
- Import declaration at destination (we coordinate)
- Packing list for personal items, if any
Shipping an EV or machinery to Egypt?
Electric vehicles enter Egypt at 0% customs duty, and machinery faces neither the model-year rule nor high tariffs. We confirm the exact classification and landed cost per unit before you commit — often the difference between a marginal deal and a strong one.
What We Ship to Egypt
Every cargo type has its own routing, loading method, and import path. Pick yours to see the exact process.
Cars, SUVs & Classics
Container or RoRo service into Egypt's main vehicle gateways, with full customs handling.
- Sedans, SUVs & pickups
- Classic & collector cars
- Motorcycles & ATVs
Heavy Equipment
Flat rack, breakbulk, and container loading for construction, agricultural, and industrial machinery bound for Egypt.
- Excavators & dozers
- Agricultural machinery
- Oversized project cargo
Boats & Yachts
Cradled container loading or lift-on/lift-off service for boats and personal watercraft headed to Egypt.
- Powerboats & sailboats
- Yachts & cruisers
- Jet skis & PWC
Container vs. RoRo to Egypt
| Feature | Container | RoRo |
|---|---|---|
| Personal items allowed inside | ||
| Non-running vehicles accepted | ||
| Lowest cost for running cars | ||
| Weather-protected transit | ||
| Multiple vehicles per booking |
Popular U.S. → Egypt Routes
New York / New Jersey → Alexandria
18–24 days ocean transit · Weekly departures
Savannah, GA → Alexandria
20–26 days ocean transit · Weekly departures
Baltimore, MD → Damietta
19–25 days ocean transit · Bi-weekly departures
Houston, TX → Ain Sokhna
24–30 days ocean transit · Bi-weekly departures
Step-by-Step: How Your Shipment to Egypt Moves
Quote & booking
Day 0Lock in your rate and vessel space. We confirm pickup windows and the best departure port for your route.
U.S. pickup & delivery to port
Days 1–7Door pickup from any auction, dealer, or residence. Condition photos taken at every handoff.
Export clearance & loading
Days 5–12AES filing, title validation with CBP (72-hour rule), professional loading, blocking, and bracing.
Ocean transit
18–24 days (East Coast)Regular sailings with full tracking from departure to arrival at Alexandria · Damietta · Ain Sokhna.
Customs & handover
2–7 daysImport declaration, duty and tax payment, and release. Optional onward trucking to your final destination.
Buying from a U.S. auction? Read our step-by-step playbook before you bid.
Read the auction shipping guideFrequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about shipping to Egypt. Can't find the answer you're looking for? Contact our team.
Only barely — Egypt requires imported passenger cars to be from the current or immediately previous model year, so in practice only new or near-new units qualify. There's no market for older used cars here. We verify model-year eligibility per VIN before anything is booked, so you don't buy a car that can't legally enter at Alexandria.
Because EVs enter at 0% customs duty, versus roughly 40% on a small gas car (≤1.6L) and up to 135% on larger engines — the best EV treatment in North Africa. You still pay 14% VAT, but the duty saving is enormous. That's why EVs, alongside machinery and generators, dominate our Egypt bookings. We confirm the exact classification and landed cost per unit before you commit.
No — machinery and industrial equipment ship to Egypt with no model-year restriction at all, in low duty bands of 0–5% plus 14% VAT. So while passenger cars are tightly limited, generators, construction equipment, and industrial gear of any age move freely. That openness, combined with Egypt's large market, makes equipment one of our most reliable Egypt lanes.
About 18–24 days from the East Coast. We sail weekly from New York/New Jersey and Savannah to Alexandria, with biweekly service to Damietta (from Baltimore) and Ain Sokhna (from Houston). Alexandria handles the bulk of the trade, Damietta serves the Delta, and Ain Sokhna covers Cairo and the Red Sea corridor. We coordinate Egyptian customs on arrival.
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