Address
Blue mall - street 38 Third District, Fifth Settlement, New Cairo
Work Hours
Monday to Friday: 7AM - 7PM
Weekend: 10AM - 5PM
Egypt is one of Europe’s key winter suppliers of fresh green beans — the slim, deep-green fine beans (haricots verts) that fill EU and UK shelves when local production has stopped. Backed by a warm winter climate and a large freezing industry, Egypt supplies fresh beans counter-seasonally and frozen beans year-round. 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 one of Europe’s leading counter-seasonal suppliers of fresh green beans (haricots verts) and a significant frozen/IQF bean exporter. The main export is the slim fine / extra-fine green bean (haricot vert), alongside bobby (round) and flat beans. The fresh season runs roughly October to May (peak December–March), counter-seasonal to Europe; frozen beans ship year-round. Fresh beans trade under HS code 0708.20 and frozen under HS 0710.22. Green beans are chilling-sensitive and stored around 5–7°C. Markets include the EU, UK, the Gulf and Russia. (Sources: CBI; ITC Trade Map, 2025.)
Table of Contents
Why Egyptian green beans
- Counter-seasonal winter supply: Egypt picks fresh beans through the European winter, exactly when EU production stops.
- Premium fine beans: Egypt specialises in the slim, tender haricot vert that European retail wants.
- Fresh and frozen: fresh beans in season plus a large IQF frozen supply year-round.
- Cost and proximity: competitive pricing and short air/sea routes to Europe and the Gulf.
- Scale: established reclaimed-desert and Delta production supports consistent volume.
Egyptian green bean types
| Type | Character | Main market |
|---|---|---|
| Fine beans (haricot vert) | Slim, ~6–9 mm, tender, deep green | EU & UK retail (the export mainstay) |
| Extra-fine | Very slim, <6 mm, premium | Premium EU retail & foodservice |
| Bobby beans | Round, thicker, fuller | UK & general retail |
| Flat / helda beans | Wide, flat pods | Selected markets |
Product forms
Egyptian green beans are exported fresh (whole pods, topped-and-tailed or as grown) and frozen — IQF whole, cut or French-cut. Fresh fine beans are the premium retail segment; frozen beans serve year-round retail and processing.
Season and availability
The fresh export season runs from about October to May, peaking December to March — the European winter window, when EU production has stopped. Frozen and IQF beans are produced through the season and held in cold storage, so Egypt can supply year-round for processing and retail. Growing is concentrated in Nubaria, Beheira and Ismailia and the reclaimed-desert zones. Exact windows shift year to year with planting and weather.
Key export markets
- European Union & UK: the main destination for fresh fine beans during winter.
- Gulf & Arab states: steady fresh demand.
- Russia & others: further fresh and frozen markets.
- Frozen / IQF: EU processing and retail year-round.
Specifications and grades
- Sizing: graded by diameter/length — extra-fine (<6 mm), fine (6–9 mm), and larger — with the grade agreed in the specification.
- Quality: straight, deep-green, tender, fresh-snapping pods; free from strings, blemishes and scarring.
- Packing: retail punnets/bags (e.g. 200–250 g) or bulk cartons (~3–5 kg); frozen in bags/cartons.
- Pricing & terms: FOB, CIF or airfreight; for frozen, by specification (cut, grade).
Fresh beans are traded under HS code 0708.20, frozen under HS 0710.22.
Compliance and food safety
Fresh green beans require a phytosanitary certificate (a key pest concern is false codling moth, Thaumatotibia leucotreta), compliance with destination MRLs (EU: Regulation (EC) No 396/2005), and increasingly GLOBALG.A.P. certification with ISPM 15 wood packaging and traceability. Note that Egyptian green beans are not on the EU’s enhanced official-controls list (Regulation (EU) 2019/1793) — the bean entries on that list apply to other origins (such as Bangladesh and India), not Egypt — so Egyptian beans are not subject to increased border checks, though sound residue management remains important. Frozen beans are a processed food and additionally need food-safety management (HACCP, and where required BRCGS / IFS / ISO 22000) with microbiological control.
Explore the Egyptian green beans hub
- Egyptian Green Bean Varieties — fine, extra-fine, bobby and flat, in depth.
- Egyptian Green Beans Export Season & Calendar — fresh and frozen availability.
- Egyptian Green Beans Export Requirements — phytosanitary, MRLs and frozen food safety.
- Egyptian Green Beans Packaging & Cold Chain — pre-cooling, chilling-sensitive handling and shipping.
- Best Egyptian Green Beans Exporters — how to choose a supplier.
Frequently asked questions
When are Egyptian green beans in season?
The fresh export season runs roughly October to May, peaking December-March; frozen/IQF beans are available year-round.
What type of green bean does Egypt mainly export?
The slim fine and extra-fine green bean (haricot vert), with bobby (round) and flat beans also grown.
Which markets buy Egyptian green beans?
The EU and UK (the main fresh winter market), the Gulf and Russia; frozen beans go to EU processing and retail.
Under what HS codes are green beans traded?
Fresh beans fall under HS 0708.20 and frozen beans under HS 0710.22.
What compliance is needed?
A phytosanitary certificate, MRL compliance, GLOBALG.A.P. and ISPM 15 for fresh; plus HACCP/GFSI food-safety certification for frozen.
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 Green Beans Export: The Complete Guide.” peitrade.com, 2026. https://peitrade.com/egyptian-green-beans-export-guide/
Sources
- CBI — Egypt as a leading counter-seasonal supplier of fresh green beans to the EU (October–May winter window).
- ITC Trade Map (2025) — Egyptian fresh and frozen green bean export volumes and destinations.
- Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture — types, growing regions and export data.
- European Commission — MRLs (Regulation (EC) No 396/2005), Regulation (EU) 2019/1793 official-controls list (bean entries apply to Bangladesh/India, not Egypt), and plant-health (false codling moth) requirements.
Source Egyptian green beans with PEI Trade. We supply fresh fine and extra-fine beans and frozen IQF beans to EU, UK, Gulf and Russian buyers, with GLOBALG.A.P. handling, phytosanitary documentation and chilling-sensitive cold-chain discipline. Contact: sales@peitrade.com · WhatsApp +20 109 911 1918 · www.peitrade.com