Edkou’s extensive agricultural land is used for growing all kinds of crops. It is also one of the most important cities in Egypt for its thriving fresh fish markets as it is adjacent to the Mediterranean Sea to the north and Lake Edkou to the south. It has a ferry port, and is the third most important center for its textile industry after El-Mahala and Shubra El-Khaima. In recent years it has witnessed a major industrial boom due to the huge natural gas fields discovered there. Because of this, Egypt has become one of the Gas Exporting Countries.