Address
Blue mall - street 38 Third District, Fifth Settlement, New Cairo
Work Hours
Monday to Friday: 7AM - 7PM
Weekend: 10AM - 5PM
Egyptian Baladi Mandarin Export: Counts, Season and Packing
Baladi is Egypt’s traditional mandarin: small to medium, deep orange-red, very thin and loose-fitting peel, two to four seeds, and an intense aroma that buyers in the Gulf specifically ask for. It is the flavour variety rather than the appearance variety — if your programme needs seedless fruit for European shelf display, Fremont is the one to specify.
This page is the ordering view: the window, the counts, the packing and the markets. For the full technical comparison of Baladi against Fremont — Brix, acidity, juice content, peel thickness and shelf life side by side — see the Egyptian mandarin export specifications.
Table of Contents
Why Buyers Specify Baladi
| Baladi | Fremont | |
|---|---|---|
| Fruit weight | 80–120 g | 100–150 g |
| Seeds per fruit | 2–4 | 0–2 |
| Peel | Very thin, loose | Medium, firmer |
| Brix at peak | 11–13° | 10–12° |
| Shelf life | 4–6 weeks | 6–8 weeks |
| Bought for | Flavour and aroma | Seedless convenience and shelf life |
| Strongest markets | GCC and traditional trade | European retail |
The trade-off is straightforward: Baladi wins on taste and loses on shelf life and seed count. Its thin peel is also the reason mandarins ship in 10 kg cartons rather than 15 kg — the lighter carton keeps the bottom layer from bruising under the stack.
Season and Supply Window
Baladi mandarins run November through February, peaking in December and January. Fremont starts late November and carries on into March, so the two together give a November–March mandarin window. From April to October there is no Egyptian mandarin at all, which is a seven-month gap buyers have to cover from another origin.
Because the Baladi window is short and lands over the holiday weeks, allocation is normally reserved in advance. For the month-by-month picture across all Egyptian citrus, see the citrus seasonality calendar.
Counts and Grading
Mandarin sizes are expressed as fruits per 10 kg carton, not 15 kg as with oranges. Baladi sits at the smaller end of the scale.
| Count | Fruits per 10 kg carton | Approx. weight per fruit | Typical for Baladi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 80–95 | 105–125 g | Large Baladi |
| 3 | 95–110 | 90–105 g | Yes |
| 4 | 110–130 | 75–90 g | Yes |
| 5 | 130–150 | 65–75 g | Small Baladi |
Class I is the grade most contracts are written against. Extra Class sits above it as a separate, stricter tier rather than another name for it — tolerances are in our Extra, Class I and Class II reference.
Packing Formats
- 10 kg carton — the mandarin export standard, roughly 38 × 28 × 25 cm, with higher ventilation than an orange carton and tissue or foam netting between layers.
- Clamshell punnets — 500 g to 1 kg, for retail programmes that need portion control and individual protection.
- Flow-wrap trays — 750 g to 1 kg, branded and retail-ready.
- Gift boxes — 2 to 5 kg decorative cartons, which move in the GCC around Ramadan and national holidays.
Baladi needs gentler handling than most citrus: no more than six or seven cartons stacked, no pressure on carton tops, and cold rooms at 4–6°C with 90–95% humidity. Full detail is in the packaging standards and the cold chain guide.
Markets We Ship To
- GCC — Saudi Arabia is the largest Baladi market, with Kuwait and Qatar close behind on flavour preference. Family-size packs sell well.
- UAE — takes both varieties; traditional and ethnic channels favour Baladi.
- Europe — specialty and ethnic retail rather than mainstream supermarkets, which expect seedless fruit.
Baladi’s shorter shelf life argues for the nearer lanes. What each destination requires on size, grade and documentation is in our export markets index.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Baladi mandarin?
Baladi is Egypt’s traditional mandarin: 80 to 120 g, deep orange-red, very thin loose peel, two to four seeds, Brix 11 to 13 degrees at peak, and a strong aroma. It is bought for flavour rather than for appearance or shelf life.
When is the Baladi mandarin season?
November through February, peaking in December and January. Fremont runs late November into March, so the two varieties together cover November to March. There is no Egyptian mandarin from April to October.
How many seeds do Baladi mandarins have?
Two to four per fruit. Baladi is not a seedless variety and is not sold as one. If your buyer requires seedless fruit, specify Fremont, which carries zero to two seeds.
Why are mandarins packed in 10 kg cartons?
Mandarin peel is thin and bruises under pressure, so the lighter carton reduces the load on the bottom layer during stacking and transport. It is the standard across the easy-peel trade rather than a PEI Trade preference.
What is the minimum order for Baladi mandarins?
One 40 ft reefer container of 10 kg cartons. The carton count and net weight are confirmed against the pack specification for the count and format you order. Mixed containers combining mandarins with oranges or lemons are possible; contact the export desk to discuss options.
Request a Quote for Baladi Mandarins
The Baladi window is short. Tell us the destination port, the count range, the volume and the shipping week, and we will confirm what is achievable for that week.
Email: [email protected]
WhatsApp: +20 109 911 1918
Office: +20 109 911 1918