Egyptian Customs has introduced a new electronic system for the pre-registration of shipment information – the Advanced Cargo Information (ACI).
Concerning exports to Egypt, ACI has been mandatory for all shipments arriving at Egyptian seaports since 1 October 2021 and should be mandatory as of 1 January 2023 for shipments arriving at Egyptian airports.
It has been informed of some technical difficulties in its use for some companies. Specifically, invoices that are automatically generated (in companies for example by SAP) in PDF format need to be converted to an XML specified by NAFEZA or even to an xls/xlsx format. As a result, the Excel invoice must either be created manually or converted from the PDF invoice via the Nafeza platform and an external platform (RPA). This process can be cumbersome for companies and create inefficiencies. Recognizing this, MTS has simplified the process by accepting invoices in their current format (PDF or other) on the RPA platform, along with a request to convert the format. In this case, the system accepts the invoice and automatically converts it to Excel.
Exporters who deliver goods to Egypt by sea must register in advance once with CargoX. After registration, the exporter must be verified, for which the exporter must pay an amount of USD 15.
As soon as a delivery is planned, the importer must enter the data using a proforma invoice in Nafeza. The system will then generate an ACID number within 48 hours. This number is available to both CargoX and Nafeza, via the communication channel between them.
All documents such as invoices, certificates of origin and shipping documents (B/L or AWB) must contain the ACID number. Deliveries arriving with shipping documents that have no ACID number will be rejected. It is therefore important to inform the forwarding agent and give them the number so they can note it on the shipping documents.
At least 48 hours before the arrival of the shipment in Egypt, the shipping documents must be uploaded by the exporter via CargoX. The uploaded documents should be sure to contain the ACID number. The uploading of documents is subject to a fee. For this purpose, a credit package must be purchased after successful registration, from which the corresponding amount is debited when the documents are uploaded.
For all future inquiries regarding this new system, you can contact Misr Technology Services (MTS), which is the developer of the new system and takes care of technical obstacles encountered by importers and exporters in collaboration with the Egyptian Customs, in order to identify a point of contact for Swiss exporters encountering difficulties with the system.
This contact point, whose details are given below, can be contacted directly by Swiss companies.
Mr. Mohamed Saied
Technology Consultant at MTS – mohamed.saied@mts-egy.com – mobile number is +201005090368.
You can find more information on the subject with these different links :
Nafeza – Advance Cargo Information System –
Demo video: Egyptian ACI filing via the CargoX Platform CargoX | Egyptian ACI filing via the CargoX Platform
Website of the Egyptian Customs Authorities
The customs fees on the portal Vetogate (arabic language only).