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Egypt is one of the world’s larger garlic producers and a competitive exporter, known for strong, pungent bulbs with good storage life. From large white export garlic to the traditional purple-tinged Balady, and from fresh cured bulbs to peeled cloves and dehydrated flakes, Egypt supplies the EU, the Gulf, Brazil, Southeast Asia and beyond. This guide is the hub for importers: what Egypt grows, when it ships, the markets it serves, the specifications buyers ask for and the compliance behind every consignment.
Quick answer: Egypt is the world’s fourth-largest garlic producer (around 396,000 tonnes, FAOSTAT 2022) and a competitive exporter. The main types are large white garlic (the export mainstay) and the traditional, pungent Balady (purple-tinged); improved varieties such as Sids 40 are also grown. Harvest runs about March to May, and cured/stored garlic ships much of the year. Egypt also has a significant dehydrated garlic segment. Fresh garlic trades under HS code 0703.20 (dried/dehydrated under 0712.90). Markets include the EU, the Gulf, Brazil, Southeast Asia and Russia. (Sources: FAOSTAT, 2022; ITC Trade Map, 2025.)
Table of Contents
Why Egyptian garlic
- Strong pungency: Egyptian garlic is valued for high pungency and solids — a real selling point for flavour and processing.
- Good storage and shelf life: well-cured bulbs store and travel well.
- White and Balady supply: large white export bulbs plus the traditional purple Balady.
- Dehydrated segment: alongside fresh, Egypt is a notable exporter of dehydrated garlic (and onion) for food processing.
- Cost and proximity: competitive pricing and short routes to Europe, the Gulf and the Mediterranean.
Egyptian garlic types
| Type | Character | Use / market |
|---|---|---|
| White garlic | Large white bulbs, firm | Main export — EU, Gulf, Brazil, Asia |
| Balady (local) | Purple-tinged, very pungent, smaller cloves | Traditional; regional & select export |
| Sids 40 & improved | Higher-yielding, larger bulbs | Fresh export |
| Dehydrated garlic (segment) | Dried flakes / granules / powder | Food processing — global |
Product forms
Egyptian garlic is exported as fresh cured whole bulbs, peeled cloves (fresh or vacuum-packed), and dehydrated garlic — flakes, granules, minced and powder — plus garlic paste. Whole bulbs are the largest segment; dehydrated and peeled add value for processing and foodservice.
Season and availability
Garlic is planted in autumn and harvested across spring — about March to May, with the earliest bulbs from late February giving Egypt an early-season edge over other Northern-Hemisphere origins. After curing, the new crop is exported from around April, and well-stored garlic ships through much of the year. Growing is concentrated in Beheira, Minya, Beni Suef and Sohag. Exact windows shift year to year with planting and weather.
Key export markets
- European Union: a significant market for Egyptian fresh and dehydrated garlic.
- Gulf & Arab states: steady fresh demand.
- Brazil & Latin America: notable destinations for Egyptian white garlic.
- Southeast Asia, Russia & Africa: further established and growing markets.
Specifications and grades
- Sizing: graded by bulb diameter into standard calibers (for example 4.5–5.5 cm, 5.5–6.5 cm, 6.5 cm+), with the mix agreed in the specification.
- Quality: firm, well-cured, dry intact skins, tight bulbs; free from sprouting, mould and damage.
- Packing: mesh / net bags (5, 10 or 20 kg), cartons, braids or pre-packed nets; to the buyer’s requirement.
- Pricing & terms: FOB or CIF, with the size mix locked after grading.
Fresh garlic is traded under HS code 0703.20; dried or dehydrated garlic (flakes, granules, powder) falls under 0712.90.
Compliance and food safety
Garlic requires a phytosanitary certificate (the key disease concern, shared with onions, is white rot, Sclerotium cepivorum), compliance with destination MRLs (EU: Regulation (EC) No 396/2005) and the EU general marketing standard, and increasingly GLOBALG.A.P. certification with ISPM 15 wood packaging and lot-coded traceability. Dehydrated garlic is a processed food and additionally needs food-safety management (HACCP, and where required ISO 22000 / BRCGS) with microbiological control. Egyptian garlic is not on the EU’s enhanced official-controls list (Regulation (EU) 2019/1793), so it is not subject to increased border checks — standard MRL and phytosanitary rules apply.
Explore the Egyptian garlic hub
- Egyptian Garlic Varieties — white, Balady and more, in depth.
- Egyptian Garlic Export Season & Calendar — harvest and year-round availability.
- Egyptian Garlic Export Requirements — phytosanitary, white rot, MRLs and dehydrated food safety.
- Egyptian Garlic Packaging & Cold Chain — curing, cold-dry storage and shipping.
- Best Egyptian Garlic Exporters — how to choose a supplier.
Frequently asked questions
When is Egyptian garlic in season for export?
The crop is harvested around March to May; after curing, the new crop exports from about April, and stored garlic ships through much of the year.
What types of garlic does Egypt export?
Mainly large white garlic and the traditional purple-tinged Balady, plus improved varieties such as Sids 40 and a significant dehydrated-garlic segment.
Which markets buy Egyptian garlic?
The EU, the Gulf, Brazil and Latin America, Southeast Asia, Russia and Africa.
Under what HS code is garlic traded?
Fresh garlic falls under HS code 0703.20; dried or dehydrated garlic falls under 0712.90.
What compliance is needed?
A phytosanitary certificate (white rot is the key concern), MRL compliance, GLOBALG.A.P. and ISPM 15 packaging, plus food-safety certification for dehydrated garlic.
How to cite this page. Reusing a figure from this guide? Please cite it and link to this page as the source.
PEI Trade. “Egyptian Garlic Export: The Complete Guide.” peitrade.com, 2026. https://peitrade.com/egyptian-garlic-export-guide/
Sources
- FAOSTAT (2022) — Egyptian garlic production (~396,000 tonnes; world’s fourth-largest producer).
- ITC Trade Map (2025) — Egyptian garlic export volumes and destinations.
- Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture — varieties, growing regions and export data.
- CBI / USDA FAS — EU and global garlic demand and the dehydrated segment.
- European Commission — MRLs (Regulation (EC) No 396/2005), Regulation (EU) 2019/1793 official-controls list, marketing standard and plant-health (white rot) requirements.
Source Egyptian garlic with PEI Trade. We supply white and Balady garlic — whole bulbs, peeled cloves and dehydrated — to EU, Gulf, Brazilian, Asian and Russian buyers, with GLOBALG.A.P. handling, full documentation and cold-dry storage discipline. Contact: sales@peitrade.com · WhatsApp +20 109 911 1918 · www.peitrade.com