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Egypt is one of the world’s fastest-growing pomegranate exporters. Backed by the deep-red, globally-demanded Wonderful variety and a long tradition of growing pomegranates in Upper Egypt, the country supplies an autumn window that reaches the EU, Russia, the Gulf, India and the Far East — as whole fruit, ready-to-eat arils and juice. 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 major and fast-growing pomegranate exporter, producing roughly 880,000 tonnes a year (2023) and exporting on the order of 150,000 tonnes (some trade estimates run higher). The dominant export variety is Wonderful (deep red, tart-sweet); the traditional Egyptian Manfalouti and local types are also grown. The season runs roughly September to December (some early fruit from August, extending into January from storage). Markets include the EU, Russia, the Gulf, India and the Far East. Pomegranates are chilling-sensitive and stored around 5–7°C, and trade under HS code 0810.90. (Sources: FAO, 2023; ITC Trade Map / CAPMAS, 2025.)
Table of Contents
Why Egyptian pomegranates
- The Wonderful variety at scale: Egypt grows the deep-red, tart-sweet Wonderful that global retail demands.
- Autumn supply window: the September–December harvest serves Northern-Hemisphere markets, with storage extending availability.
- Long growing tradition: Upper Egypt (Assiut/Manfalut) has grown pomegranates for generations, now joined by large new desert plantings.
- Whole, arils and juice: Egypt supplies fresh whole fruit, ready-to-eat arils and pomegranate juice / concentrate.
- Cost and proximity: competitive pricing and short routes to Europe, the Gulf and beyond.
Egyptian pomegranate varieties
| Variety | Character | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Wonderful | Deep red skin & arils, tart-sweet | The leading export variety worldwide |
| Early Wonderful | Wonderful type, earlier | Opens the season ahead of main Wonderful |
| Manfalouti | Large, sweet, lighter red | Traditional Egyptian variety (Assiut/Manfalut) |
| Baladi / Assiouti | Local types | Regional and domestic supply |
Product forms
Egyptian pomegranates are exported as whole fresh fruit, ready-to-eat fresh arils (in modified-atmosphere packs), frozen arils, and juice / concentrate. Whole fruit is the largest segment; arils and juice add value and serve processing and convenience markets.
Season and availability
The Egyptian pomegranate season runs from about September to December, with some early fruit from August and supply extending into January from cold storage. Growing is concentrated in Assiut (Manfalut), El-Minya and Sohag in Upper Egypt, plus large new plantings in Beheira, Nubaria and reclaimed desert. The main harvest concentrates from late August/September through November, with cold storage extending shipments toward year-end; exact windows shift year to year with variety and weather.
Key export markets
- European Union & UK: strong demand for Wonderful, via the Netherlands, Germany and others.
- Russia: a major market for Egyptian pomegranates.
- Gulf & Arab states: steady fresh demand.
- India & the Far East: growing destinations, including Bangladesh and Southeast Asia.
Specifications and grades
- Sizing: graded by count/caliber (e.g. by diameter or fruit-per-carton count), with the mix agreed in the specification.
- Quality: deep external colour, good aril colour, target Brix/acidity, free from husk scald, cracking and sunburn.
- Packing: single-layer or telescopic cartons (often ~4–5 kg), arils in MAP punnets; to the buyer’s requirement.
- Pricing & terms: FOB or CIF, with the size/grade mix locked after grading.
Pomegranates are traded under HS code 0810.90.
Compliance and food safety
Pomegranates require a phytosanitary certificate (the key pest concerns include false codling moth, Thaumatotibia leucotreta, and Mediterranean fruit fly), compliance with destination MRLs (for the EU, Regulation (EC) No 396/2005), and increasingly GLOBALG.A.P. certification, with ISPM 15 wood packaging and lot-coded traceability. Fresh arils are a minimally-processed food and additionally need food-safety management (HACCP, and where required BRCGS / IFS / ISO 22000) with microbiological control. Egyptian pomegranates are not on the EU’s enhanced official-controls list for residues (Regulation (EU) 2019/1793), so they are not subject to increased border checks on that basis — though the plant-health requirement against false codling moth still applies, and standard MRL rules under Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 must be met.
Explore the Egyptian pomegranate hub
- Egyptian Pomegranate Varieties — Wonderful, Manfalouti and more, in depth.
- Egyptian Pomegranate Export Season & Calendar — month-by-month availability.
- Egyptian Pomegranate Export Requirements — phytosanitary, MRLs and aril food safety.
- Egyptian Pomegranate Packaging & Cold Chain — chilling-sensitive storage and shipping.
- Best Egyptian Pomegranate Exporters — how to choose a supplier.
Frequently asked questions
When are Egyptian pomegranates in season?
Roughly September to December, with some early fruit from August and supply extending into January from cold storage.
What is the main Egyptian export pomegranate variety?
Wonderful – deep red and tart-sweet – is the leading export variety; the traditional Manfalouti and local types are also grown.
Which markets buy Egyptian pomegranates?
The EU and UK, Russia, the Gulf, India and the Far East.
Are Egyptian pomegranates available as arils?
Yes – as ready-to-eat fresh arils in modified-atmosphere packs, frozen arils, and as juice/concentrate.
Under what HS code are pomegranates traded?
Pomegranates fall under HS code 0810.90 (other fresh fruit).
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 Pomegranate Export: The Complete Guide.” peitrade.com, 2026. https://peitrade.com/egyptian-pomegranate-export-guide/
Sources
- FAO (2023) — Egyptian pomegranate production (~880,000 tonnes).
- ITC Trade Map / CAPMAS (2025) — Egyptian pomegranate exports (~150,000 tonnes; some estimates higher) and destinations.
- Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture — varieties, growing regions and export data.
- CBI / USDA FAS — EU and global pomegranate demand and the Wonderful variety.
- European Commission — MRLs (Regulation (EC) No 396/2005), Regulation (EU) 2019/1793 official-controls list, and plant-health (false codling moth, medfly) requirements.
Source Egyptian pomegranates with PEI Trade. We supply Wonderful and traditional varieties — whole fruit, fresh arils and juice — to EU, Russian, Gulf, Indian and Far East 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