Egypt ACID Certificate

Egypt ACID Number — What It Is and Why It’s Required

All ocean freight shipments destined for Egypt require an ACID (Advance Cargo Information Declaration) number — a mandatory loading document issued before the vessel departs. The ACID is Egypt’s electronic cargo pre-declaration system, sometimes also referred to as an ECTN (Electronic Cargo Tracking Note) in international shipping contexts.

The ACID number must be submitted to Egyptian customs authorities before the vessel sails and the number must appear on the Bill of Lading. Egypt’s primary commercial ports — Alexandria, Port Said, Damietta, and Ain Sokhna — all enforce this requirement. Cargo arriving without a valid, pre-approved ACID number faces significant delays and penalties.

Required Documents

Egypt has specific document requirements that differ from most other African cargo tracking programs:

• Bill of Lading — must be provided in final form
• Commercial Invoice — showing accurate cargo value; all information must exactly match the B/L and packing list
• Commercial Invoice in Excel format — Egypt uniquely requires the commercial invoice submitted in both PDF and Excel formats for data extraction purposes
• Packing List — complete and accurate, matching all other documents
• Certificate of Origin — required for all commercial shipments

Consignee ID requirement: Your Egyptian importer must provide their national ID or tax registration number, along with supporting documentation, as part of the application. Without this information from the receiving party, the ACID cannot be issued.

Processing Time

Processing typically takes a few days once all submitted documents are correct and accurately matched. Egypt’s ACID system processes on weekdays only — allow additional time if your timeline falls over a weekend.

Given the additional Excel format requirement and the need for consignee-side documentation, we recommend starting the ACID process at least 5-7 working days before the vessel departs, particularly for first-time shipments to a new Egyptian consignee.

Document Consistency Is Critical

Egypt’s customs system cross-checks all submitted documents meticulously. There must be no unmatched information between the B/L, commercial invoice, packing list, and certificate of origin. Discrepancies — even minor ones like weight differences or description variations — will cause the ACID application to be rejected and the process to restart from scratch.

Submit documents only once they are fully final and confirmed correct.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

Cargo arriving at Egyptian ports without a valid ACID number faces:

• Significant financial penalties from Egyptian Customs Authority
• Cargo detention — goods will not be released until proper documentation is presented
• Customs examination delays — non-compliant cargo is subject to intensive physical examination
• Demurrage and storage charges accumulating at the port

Egypt Trade — Key Figures

Egypt is Africa’s third-largest economy and one of the world’s most important maritime transit points. The Suez Canal connects the Mediterranean to the Red Sea, making Egypt a global shipping crossroads. Egypt’s annual import volume runs at approximately 70 billion USD, making it one of Africa’s largest import markets. Key imported goods include machinery, vehicles, petroleum products, foodstuffs, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. Major trading partners include China, the United States, Germany, Saudi Arabia, and Russia.

Alexandria Port and Port Said together handle the vast majority of Egypt’s containerised cargo.

FAQ

Why does Egypt require a commercial invoice in Excel format? Egyptian customs uses automated systems that parse structured data from Excel files. This is a unique Egypt-specific requirement — most other countries accept PDFs only.

Can my importer in Egypt provide the ID details after I apply? No. The consignee’s ID or tax registration number is required as part of the initial ACID application. Make sure your Egyptian customer is aware and can supply this information upfront.

Do all Egyptian ports require the ACID? Yes. The ACID requirement applies to all Egyptian sea ports including Alexandria, Port Said, Damietta, and Ain Sokhna.

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