Egypt's economy locked in crisis

The tourism industry is hit hardest by the crisis. It contributes one sixth to the nation's GDP and washes significant amounts of foreign currency into the state's and companies' coffers. The German Foreign Ministry has issued a travel warning. A number of tour operators have canceled all trips to the region until mid-September.

Being Egypt's main trading partner, the US imports oil, gas, textiles and also agricultural produce. Both countries have signed several trade agreements. But because of current supply issues, the Food and Agriculture Organization fears that Egypt will have to even import crops in 2013.

The state-owned Egyptian General Petroleum Company (EGPC) supervises the oil and gas trade with Jordan, for instance, which gets its gas via the Nabucco pipeline (pictured here). Originally, there had been plans to extend it to Europe to make the EU less dependent on Russian deliveries.

Via the Suez Canal Egypt controls one of the world's most important oil supply routes. Although the canal is protected by the military, oil prices have surged to a five-month high because of the crisis.

East Port Said (pictured here) is an important trade center, as it is a huge container port. It is about 200 kilometers (124 miles) away from Cairo. As early as spring this year the country's ports were at the center of the unrest. Regular freight shipping was no longer possible.

Mining and industry account for a third of Egypt's gross domestic product - which is still very low. With its 84 million people, Egypt has slightly more inhabitants than Germany, but its economic peformance was estimated to be only about a tenth that of Germany in 2012.

Empty tracks, slow trains - when the crisis broke out in 2011, less than five percent of the overall Egyptian freight transport was by rail. There had been plans to extend the route from Cairo to Alexandria and lines near the Suez Canal.

Egypt has a road network of over 45,000 kilometers. Before the crisis, almost half of it needed repairing. Political unrest has stopped any plans to upgrade roads and build new motorways.

Germany's Metro wholesale and retail chain has closed down its subsidiary in Cairo. Germany still ranks among Egypt's three most important trading partners. But German firms BASF, ThyssenKrupp and Henkel are now also pulling out staff.

Egypt Air passengers have to put up with delays. They have to be at their departure gates four hours before their flights because of extensive security checks. Germany's flag carrier Lufthansa continues to fly to Cairo while other airlines have restricted services or even canceled them altogether for the time being.