Egyptian White Beans Exports to Italy: Dry Bean Guide

Italy is an established EU market for Egyptian dry white beans. White beans (fagioli) are woven through Italian cooking — from pasta e fagioli to canned and jarred lines — and Italy imports dry beans in volume to supply its packing and foodservice industries. Egypt, the world’s #2 exporter of dried white beans, is a natural, EU-compliant and competitively priced origin. This guide covers grades and specifications, logistics, EU market requirements, the crop calendar, and how to open a supply program. HS code 0713.33.

Quick Answer: Egyptian White Beans to Italy

  • Product: dried white (navy / pea / cannellini-style) beans, Phaseolus vulgaris — machine-cleaned, calibrated (HS 0713.33).
  • Egypt’s position: world’s #2 exporter of dried white beans.
  • Italy’s role: an established EU market supplying packers, canners and foodservice.
  • Main use: canning/jarring, retail packing and foodservice (fagioli).
  • Calibres: 180–200, 200–220, 220–240 beans/100 g — to buyer spec.
  • Main route: containerised (ambient) from Alexandria / Damietta to Gioia Tauro, Genoa and Salerno.
  • Packing: 25 / 50 kg PP bags; ~25 MT per 20-ft container.
  • Incoterms: FOB / CIF / CFR — confirm per booking.

Why Egyptian White Beans Work for the Italian Market

Italy is one of Europe’s biggest pulse-consuming markets, and white beans are a fixture of its cuisine and its canning and jarring industry. Domestic production covers only part of demand, so Italy imports dry beans steadily. Egyptian navy/pea beans offer the uniform calibres, clean optical sorting and EU-aligned food safety Italian packers require, at competitive prices and with a short Mediterranean sea leg.

As the world’s #2 exporter of dried white beans, Egypt can support Italian canners, packers and foodservice distributors with consistent quality and year-round availability from stored crop — a dependable complement to European origins.

Grades & Specifications

ParameterTypical export spec
TypeWhite navy / pea beans (Phaseolus vulgaris)
Calibre180–200 / 200–220 / 220–240 beans per 100 g (to buyer spec)
Purity99.5%+ machine-cleaned; Sortex/optical-sorted; hand-picked on request
Moisture≤ 14–16%
DefectsLow tolerance for split, broken, discoloured & foreign matter (to spec)
CropCurrent crop year stated on documents

For full product background see the Egyptian white beans export guide and the Egyptian dry beans / legumes export report.

Logistics: Egypt to Italy

  • Ports of loading: Alexandria, Damietta, Port Said.
  • Ports of discharge: Gioia Tauro, Genoa, Salerno, onward inland.
  • Container: ambient (dry) 20-ft container — no cold chain needed for dry pulses.
  • Packing: 25 kg or 50 kg PP/laminated bags; ~25 MT per 20-ft.
  • Transit: short central-Mediterranean sailing — fast, low-cost freight.

Italian / EU Market Requirements

  • Phytosanitary certificate from Egypt’s Ministry of Agriculture meeting EU plant-health rules.
  • EU food law: compliance with EU MRLs and contaminant limits; full traceability.
  • Documentation: certificate of origin, commercial invoice, packing list, weight/quality certificate.
  • Quality assurance: HACCP / ISO 22000 or FSSC 22000 at the cleaning/packing facility; fumigation certificate as required.
  • Labeling: EU-compliant labeling with product, calibre, net weight, crop year, producer and lot code.

Crop & Shipping Calendar

PeriodActivityItaly notes
Sep–NovEgyptian dry-bean harvest & cleaningNew-crop contracting; best availability
Nov–FebPeak shipping of new cropCanners & packers stock ahead of demand
Mar–AugShipping from storageYear-round supply of stored crop

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Italy import Egyptian white beans?

Yes. Italy is a large pulse-consuming market that imports dry white beans to supply its canning, jarring and foodservice industries, and Egypt — the world’s #2 exporter — is an established, EU-compliant origin.

What calibres of Egyptian white beans are available?

Common export calibres are 180–200, 200–220 and 220–240 beans per 100 g, machine-cleaned and optically sorted to buyer specification.

How are Egyptian white beans shipped to Italy?

In ambient (dry) 20-ft containers from Alexandria or Damietta to Gioia Tauro, Genoa or Salerno, packed in 25 or 50 kg PP bags at around 25 MT per container — no cold chain required.

What EU compliance is required?

A phytosanitary certificate meeting EU plant-health rules, EU MRL and contaminant compliance with full traceability, certificate of origin, commercial invoice, packing list, weight/quality certificate, HACCP/ISO 22000 processing, and a fumigation certificate where required.

Request a Quote for the Italian Market

Building an Italy white-bean program? PEI Trade supplies dried white navy/pea beans in your calibre and purity spec, machine-cleaned and optically sorted, in 25/50 kg bags with EU-compliant documentation and ambient container delivery to Gioia Tauro, Genoa and Salerno. Tell us your calibre, volume and delivery window for a competitive offer.

Request a White Beans Quote →

How to Cite This Page

PEI Trade. “Egyptian White Beans Exports to Italy: Dry Bean Guide.” peitrade.com, 2026, https://peitrade.com/egyptian-white-beans-exports-to-italy/

Sources: WITS/UN Comtrade Egypt dried kidney/white pea beans exports (EU among top destinations, HS 0713.33); Tridge white-beans market overview (Egypt #2 exporter). Country-level Italy volume qualitative. HS code 0713.33.

PEI Trade · New Cairo, Egypt · sales@peitrade.com · WhatsApp +20 109 911 1918 · www.peitrade.com · Brand: nile-prime.com · Ports: Alexandria, Damietta, Sokhna, Port Said (Incoterms 2020)