Sweet potato is one of Egypt’s standout horticultural export success stories — orange-fleshed roots that have made the country the leading supplier to European supermarkets, overtaking the United States. A warm climate, sandy reclaimed-desert soils ideal for clean roots, and good storage behaviour let Egypt supply sweet potato for much of the year. 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 European Union’s leading supplier of sweet potato — overtaking the United States in 2023/24 — producing around 440,000 tonnes a year (USDA, 2024) and exporting roughly 266,000–310,000 tonnes worth about US$182 million (2024), its third-largest agricultural export. The main export is the orange-flesh sweet potato (notably the Beauregard type). Harvest runs roughly September to December, with export peaking August to January; after curing, roots store well and ship for much of the year. Sweet potato trades under HS code 0714.20. It is chilling-sensitive — cured warm and stored around 13–15°C, never refrigerated cold. Markets include the EU, UK, the Gulf and Russia. (Sources: USDA FAS, 2024; ITC Trade Map, 2025.)

Why Egyptian sweet potato

  • #1 EU supplier: Egypt is now the largest source of sweet potato for European retail, having overtaken the United States.
  • Clean, well-shaped roots: sandy reclaimed-desert soils produce smooth, uniform, easy-to-wash roots.
  • Year-round availability: good curing and storage extend supply well beyond harvest.
  • Premium orange flesh: the sweet, moist Beauregard-type flesh that retail and foodservice want.
  • Cost and proximity: competitive pricing and short routes to Europe, the Gulf and Russia.
Egypt's top agricultural exports in 2025 by volume: citrus, potatoes, sweet potatoes, beans, onions
Sweet potato ranks among Egypt’s top agricultural exports by volume (source: PEI Trade).

Egyptian sweet potato types

TypeCharacterMain market
Orange flesh (Beauregard type)Sweet, moist, deep orange; copper skinEU & UK retail (the export mainstay)
White / cream fleshDrier, less sweet, pale fleshSelected & ethnic markets
Purple skin / white flesh (Japanese type)Purple skin, sweet white fleshSpecialty retail
Purple fleshDeep purple flesh, nicheSpecialty retail

Season and availability

The main harvest runs from about September to December. Because sweet potatoes are cured and then store well for months, Egypt supplies them for much of the year from controlled storage — a major advantage over crops with a short fresh window. Production spans reclaimed-desert and Delta regions such as Beheira, Nubaria and Sharqia. Export peaks from around August to January; exact windows shift year to year with planting and weather.

Egyptian orange-flesh sweet potatoes for export
Egyptian orange-flesh sweet potatoes, washed and graded for export.

Key export markets

  • European Union & UK: the main destination — Egypt is the leading EU supplier (e.g. UK, Netherlands, Germany).
  • Gulf & Arab states: steady demand.
  • Russia & Eastern Europe: further volume markets.
  • Re-export: some volume moves through EU hubs onward.

Specifications and grades

  • Sizing: graded by weight/count per piece, often to a U.S. No. 1-style standard; uniform medium roots favoured by retail.
  • Quality: smooth, well-shaped, intact copper skin; cured; free from cracks, growth distortion, sprouting and decay.
  • Packing: cartons (~5–6 kg), retail bags, or bulk bins; usually washed/brushed.
  • Pricing & terms: FOB or CIF, with size grade and pack agreed in the specification.

Sweet potato is traded under HS code 0714.20.

Compliance and food safety

Fresh sweet potato requires a phytosanitary certificate (the key quarantine pest is the sweet potato weevil, Cylas formicarius, with soil and pest freedom important), compliance with destination MRLs (EU: Regulation (EC) No 396/2005), and GLOBALG.A.P. certification with ISPM 15 wood packaging and traceability. Sweet potato generally faces fewer residue red-flags than some crops, and Egyptian sweet potato is not on the EU’s enhanced official-controls list (Regulation (EU) 2019/1793) — but soil/quarantine cleanliness and correct curing are central to clean shipments.

Explore the Egyptian sweet potato hub

Frequently asked questions

When are Egyptian sweet potatoes in season?

The main harvest runs September to December, but after curing they store for months, so Egypt supplies them for much of the year; export peaks from around August to January.

What type of sweet potato does Egypt mainly export?

The orange-flesh Beauregard type, with white-flesh and purple specialty types also grown.

Which markets buy Egyptian sweet potato?

Mainly the EU and UK (Egypt is the leading supplier, having overtaken the USA), plus the Gulf and Russia.

Under what HS code is sweet potato traded?

Fresh sweet potato falls under HS code 0714.20.

How should sweet potato be stored?

Cured after harvest, then stored warm at about 13-15 degrees C – it is chilling-sensitive and damaged by cold refrigeration.

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 Sweet Potato Export: The Complete Guide.” peitrade.com, 2026. https://peitrade.com/egyptian-sweet-potato-export-guide/

Sources

  • USDA FAS (2024) — Egyptian sweet potato production (~440,000 tonnes) and Egypt as the EU’s leading supplier (overtaking the USA in 2023/24).
  • ITC Trade Map (2025) — Egyptian sweet potato exports (~266,000–310,000 tonnes; ~US$182 million in 2024) and destinations.
  • Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture — varieties, growing regions and export data.
  • CBI / USDA FAS — EU sweet potato demand and supply.
  • European Commission — MRLs (Regulation (EC) No 396/2005), Regulation (EU) 2019/1793 official-controls list (Egypt not listed) and plant-health (sweet potato weevil) requirements.

Source Egyptian sweet potato with PEI Trade. We supply orange-flesh Beauregard-type and specialty sweet potatoes to EU, UK, Gulf and Russian buyers, with GLOBALG.A.P. handling, phytosanitary documentation, proper curing and chilling-sensitive storage. Contact: sales@peitrade.com · WhatsApp +20 109 911 1918 · www.peitrade.com