Guava is one of Egypt’s beloved traditional fruits and a growing export — fragrant white-flesh guava shipped fresh to the Gulf and increasingly Europe, plus frozen guava pulp and halves for the juice and processing industry. With large autumn volumes and a distinctive aroma, Egyptian guava has a clear place in world markets. 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 a significant guava producer — around 365,000 tonnes a year (FAOSTAT, 2022), roughly the world’s eighth-largest — and a growing exporter (about US$16 million in 2023, its tenth-largest agricultural export). The main export is the aromatic white-flesh guava, with pink/red-flesh types also grown, sold fresh and frozen (halves, pulp, purée). The fresh season runs roughly August to December (peak October–November); frozen ships year-round. Fresh guava trades under HS code 0804.50 (the subheading it shares with mangoes and mangosteens) and frozen under HS 0811.90. It is chilling-sensitive and stored around 8–10°C. Markets include the Gulf, the EU and Russia. (Sources: FAOSTAT, 2022; ITC Trade Map, 2023.)

Why Egyptian guava

  • Strong aroma and flavour: Egypt’s white-flesh guava is prized for fragrance and sweetness.
  • Large autumn volumes: abundant supply in the main season for fresh and processing.
  • Fresh and frozen: fresh fruit plus frozen halves, pulp and purée for juice and processing.
  • Gulf demand: a well-established fresh market with cultural familiarity.
  • Proximity: short routes to the Gulf and Europe for a perishable fruit.
Fresh Egyptian white-flesh guava for export
Fresh Egyptian white-flesh guava, graded for export.

Egyptian guava types

TypeCharacterMain use
White-flesh (Balady)Green-yellow skin, white aromatic fleshFresh (the export mainstay) & processing
Pink / red-fleshPink-red flesh, sweetFresh & juice/pulp
Frozen halves / pulpIQF halves, pulp, puréeJuice & food processing

Season and availability

The fresh season runs from about August to December, peaking October to November, with some availability beyond. Frozen pulp and halves are produced in season and held in cold storage, so Egypt supplies them year-round. Growing is concentrated in Qalyubia, Sharqia, Beheira and Ismailia and parts of Upper Egypt. A lighter secondary crop can extend availability into spring; exact windows shift year to year with cultivar and weather.

Key export markets

  • Gulf & Arab states: the main fresh market, with strong cultural demand.
  • European Union & UK: growing fresh demand, including ethnic retail.
  • Russia & others: further fresh markets.
  • Frozen pulp/purée: the global juice and processing industry.

Specifications and grades

  • Sizing: graded by size/weight and count; uniform fruit favoured.
  • Quality: good green-yellow colour, aroma, correct firmness/ripeness stage, no blemish or bruising.
  • Packing: single-layer cartons by count; frozen in bags/cartons.
  • Pricing & terms: FOB, CIF or airfreight (premium fresh); frozen by specification.

Fresh guava is traded under HS code 0804.50 — the subheading shared with mangoes and mangosteens (“guavas, mangoes and mangosteens”) — and frozen under HS 0811.90.

Compliance and food safety

Fresh guava requires a phytosanitary certificate (the key pest is the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata — some markets require a treatment such as cold or hot-water treatment), compliance with destination MRLs (EU: Regulation (EC) No 396/2005), and GLOBALG.A.P. with ISPM 15 packaging and traceability. Frozen pulp and halves are a processed food and additionally need food-safety management (HACCP, and where required BRCGS / ISO 22000). Egyptian guava 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 guava hub

Frequently asked questions

When is Egyptian guava in season?

Fresh from about August to December (peak October-November); frozen pulp and halves are available year-round.

What type of guava does Egypt mainly export?

The aromatic white-flesh (Balady) guava, with pink/red-flesh types also grown.

Which markets buy Egyptian guava?

Mainly the Gulf for fresh, with growing EU demand and frozen pulp to the juice industry.

Under what HS codes is guava traded?

Fresh guava under HS 0804.50 (shared with mangoes and mangosteens) and frozen under HS 0811.90.

How should guava be stored?

Cool, around 8-10 degrees C – guava is chilling-sensitive and damaged by cold storage.

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 Guava Export: The Complete Guide.” peitrade.com, 2026. https://peitrade.com/egyptian-guava-export-guide/

Sources

  • FAOSTAT (2022) — Egyptian guava production (~365,000 tonnes; roughly the world’s eighth-largest producer).
  • ITC Trade Map (2023) — Egyptian guava exports (~US$16 million; its tenth-largest agricultural export) and destinations.
  • Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture — types, growing regions and export data.
  • CBI / USDA FAS — Gulf and EU guava demand.
  • European Commission — MRLs (Regulation (EC) No 396/2005), Regulation (EU) 2019/1793 official-controls list (Egypt not listed) and plant-health (medfly) requirements.

Source Egyptian guava with PEI Trade. We supply fresh white and pink guava and frozen pulp and halves to Gulf, EU and processing 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