Egyptian Fresh Strawberry Exports to Saudi Arabia: Winter Guide

Saudi Arabia is a core Gulf market for Egyptian fresh strawberries. This is the fresh trade under HS 0810.10 — distinct from Egypt’s dominant frozen/IQF strawberry business: Nile Delta winter fruit is cooled and shipped fresh (air and reefer) into Saudi retail and foodservice from December to March. Egypt’s proximity via the Red Sea and its winter season make it a leading supplier of fresh strawberries to the Kingdom. Egypt exports on the order of 45,000 tonnes of fresh strawberries a season. This guide covers the best varieties, logistics, market requirements, the season calendar, and how to open a supply program.

Quick Answer: Egyptian Fresh Strawberry to Saudi Arabia

  • Product: fresh strawberries in punnets/bulk (HS 0810.10). Distinct from frozen/IQF.
  • Egypt’s position: a leading fresh-strawberry supplier to the Gulf — ~45,000 t a season.
  • Saudi’s role: a core Gulf retail & foodservice market for the winter window.
  • Best varieties: Fortuna, Festival, Sabrina, Winter Star.
  • Season: December–March (peak January–March).
  • Main route: air (premium/early) and reefer via Sokhna / Red Sea to Jeddah & Dammam.
  • Cold chain: carry at ~0–2 °C; pre-cooled, humidity-managed.
  • Compliance: SFDA import rules, phytosanitary certificate, Arabic labeling.

Why Egyptian Fresh Strawberry Works for the Saudi Market

Fresh strawberries are a popular winter fruit in Saudi Arabia, sold across supermarkets, juice bars and hospitality. The Kingdom imports the bulk of its supply, and Egypt’s advantages are decisive: a matching December–March season, short Red Sea transit that protects a delicate fruit, and competitive pricing. Demand strengthens through the cooler months and around Ramadan.

For Saudi importers, Egyptian fresh strawberries offer dependable seasonal supply, good colour and flavour, and fast replenishment — air for early premium lots, reefer sea as volume builds.

Best Varieties for Saudi Arabia

VarietyProfileSaudi fit
FortunaFirm, bright red, good shelf life★★★ Retail workhorse
FestivalSweet, aromatic, firm★★★ Flavour & juice
SabrinaLarge, glossy, good travel★★ Premium
Winter StarEarly, productive, firm★★ Season opener

For full product detail see the Egyptian strawberry export guide and the Egyptian strawberry export season.

Logistics: Egypt to Saudi Arabia

  • Departure: Cairo airport (air, premium/early); Sokhna/Adabiya (reefer sea, Red Sea).
  • Arrival: Jeddah (west) and Dammam (east); land bridge to Riyadh.
  • Temperature: ~0–2 °C, pre-cooled; humidity and airflow managed; protect from heat.
  • Packing: 250 g / 500 g punnets or bulk trays; size-graded.
  • Transit: air for 1–2 day early-season delivery; short Red Sea sea leg as volume builds.

Saudi Market Requirements

  • Phytosanitary certificate from Egypt’s Ministry of Agriculture meeting Saudi import conditions.
  • SFDA / SASO: compliance with Saudi Food & Drug Authority import rules; SABER as applicable.
  • MRLs & spec: residue compliance; size grade, colour and freshness to buyer.
  • Documentation: certificate of origin, commercial invoice, packing list, cold-chain logs; Arabic labeling.
  • Food safety: GLOBALG.A.P (farm) and HACCP (packhouse) as baseline.

Season & Shipping Window

PeriodEgyptian cropSaudi notes
Dec–JanSeason opens (Winter Star, Fortuna)Early premium; often air freight
Feb–MarPeak (Fortuna, Festival, Sabrina)Peak volume to Jeddah/Dammam
AprSeason tapersSupply winds down

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this fresh or frozen strawberry?

This page covers fresh strawberries under HS 0810.10 — chilled retail fruit, distinct from Egypt’s dominant frozen/IQF strawberry business (HS 0811.10).

When can Saudi buyers get Egyptian fresh strawberries?

December to March, peaking January–March, with demand strengthening in the cooler months and around Ramadan.

How are Egyptian fresh strawberries shipped to Saudi Arabia?

By air for early premium lots (via Cairo) and by reefer sea via Sokhna/Red Sea to Jeddah and Dammam, carried at about 0–2 °C in punnets or bulk trays.

What documents are required to import Egyptian fresh strawberries into Saudi Arabia?

A phytosanitary certificate meeting Saudi conditions, SFDA/SASO compliance (SABER as applicable), MRL compliance, Arabic labeling, certificate of origin, commercial invoice, packing list, and farm/packhouse food-safety certification.

Request a Quote for the Saudi Market

Building a Saudi fresh-strawberry program? PEI Trade supplies Fortuna, Festival, Sabrina and Winter Star in punnets or bulk trays with ~0–2 °C cold chain, SFDA/SASO-aligned documentation, Arabic labeling and air or Red Sea delivery to Jeddah and Dammam across the December–March window. Tell us your varieties, pack format and delivery window for a compliant offer.

Request a Strawberry Quote →

How to Cite This Page

PEI Trade. “Egyptian Fresh Strawberry Exports to Saudi Arabia: Winter Guide.” peitrade.com, 2026, https://peitrade.com/egyptian-strawberry-exports-to-saudi-arabia/

Sources: FreshFruitPortal “Egypt strawberry exports reach 45 thousand tons” (fresh, 2024); PEI Trade Egyptian Strawberry Export Guide (winter season, Gulf a leading market). Country-level Saudi fresh volume qualitative. HS code 0810.10.

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)