Lemons and limes sit slightly outside the main Egyptian citrus conversation, which tends to be dominated by Valencia and Navel oranges. For importers building a full citrus book, they are worth planning separately. The varieties are different, the size codes are different, and the shipping behaviour is different enough that a lemon pallet loaded to an orange specification will usually arrive with problems.

Varieties and what each one is for

Adalia lemon, the local name for the Interdonato type, is the main export lemon out of Egypt. It is elongated, thin-skinned, has a smooth rind and a relatively low seed count. Juice content is good and the acidity profile suits both the food service trade and retail. Adalia is the variety most Gulf and Eastern European buyers are asking for when they write Egyptian lemon on a purchase order.

Baladi lemon is the second type, rounder and with a thicker rind. It stores and travels better than Adalia and holds up on longer transits, which makes it a sensible choice for buyers who are sending fruit deep inland after discharge. Egyptian limes, mostly the Baladi lime or key lime type, are small, thin-skinned and highly aromatic. They move mainly to Gulf markets and to Egyptian diaspora retail across Europe.

Sizes and grades

Lemon sizing follows count per carton on the standard 15 kg format. Common export counts run from 63 through 138, with 75 to 100 the volume sizes for most retail programmes. Class I fruit must be clean, sound, free of oleocellosis and healed wounds, and uniform in colour within a carton. Class II allows minor rind defects that do not affect keeping quality. Limes are sold by diameter band rather than count, typically 35 to 45 mm and 45 to 55 mm, packed 4 kg to 5 kg in ventilated cartons.

Packing and pallet configuration

The standard lemon carton is 15 kg telescopic corrugated with ventilation on all four sides, packed in count layers rather than loose. A 10 kg carton is also available for retail programmes that need a lighter unit. On a 1.0 by 1.2 m Euro-style pallet, 15 kg lemon cartons typically stack 8 per layer and 8 to 9 layers high, corner-boarded and strapped. A 40 ft high cube reefer takes 20 pallets, which puts a full load in the region of 19 to 21 tonnes depending on carton weight and pallet height.

Cold chain

Lemons are more chilling-sensitive than oranges. Set points of 10 to 13 degrees Celsius are normal for Adalia, with 90 to 95 percent relative humidity and modest fresh air exchange. Running lemons at orange temperatures invites pitting and rind breakdown on arrival. Limes are handled warmer still, around 10 to 12 degrees, because they lose their green colour quickly when held too cold or too long. The related guidance in our reefer set point reference by crop covers the full range.

Season window and booking

Adalia lemon harvest opens in October and runs through to about May, with the strongest volume and best sizing between December and March. Limes are available across a longer window with a summer dip. Buyers who want programme volume rather than spot containers should be talking now, alongside the orange discussions covered in our note on citrus contracting for 2026/2027.

PEI Trade supplies lemons and limes to importers, wholesalers and food distributors under GLOBALG.A.P certified sourcing, with SGS or Intertek pre-shipment inspection available on request. To discuss counts, carton formats and shipping positions for the coming season, message our export desk on WhatsApp at +20 10 9911 1918.