Egypt Citrus Export 2025: 2M+ Tons Shipped Globally

Egyptian citrus leads agricultural exports as the country’s most valuable fruit commodity, with over 2 million tons shipped to global markets in 2025, positioning Egypt as one of the world’s top citrus suppliers. The country’s citrus sector maintains high standards of quality, with rigorous adherence to Global GAP, HACCP, and ISO 22000 certifications, ensuring every shipment meets international requirements for food safety and traceability. This guide provides B2B importers with essential insights into sourcing bulk Egyptian oranges for export, including variety specifications, harvest windows, quality protocols, and wholesale pricing trends for 2026.

Why Egyptian Citrus Dominates Global Markets

Egypt’s strategic location, favorable climate, and developed agricultural infrastructure have made it a key player in the global citrus trade. With extensive cultivation across the Nile Delta, the country ranks among the top citrus producers worldwide and is a leading exporter to major international markets. Continuous expansion of cultivation areas and strong trade relationships have consistently supported growth in citrus exports.

Primary export destinations:

European Union (35%) – Netherlands, Italy, Germany
Russia (28%) – Egypt’s largest single market
Saudi Arabia and Gulf States (18%)
China and Southeast Asia (12%, rapidly growing)

The citrus quality Egypt produces has gained international recognition for consistent sweetness, vibrant color, minimal seeds, and exceptional cold storage tolerance. Citrus exports generated approximately $650 million USD in 2025, making it Egypt’s top agricultural export by value.

Premium Egyptian Citrus Varieties: Specifications for Importers

Valencia Oranges (March – September)

Egypt’s flagship export variety, accounting for 40% of total shipments. Brix levels reach 11-13° with 45-52% juice content and 45-60 days shelf life at 4-8°C. Available in counts 36-88 per 15kg carton. Peak export window: April-July. Ideal for European summer programs when Spanish production concludes.

Navel Oranges (November – March)

Completely seedless with easy-peel characteristics. Brix levels 10-12°, shelf life 30-45 days. Counts 32-72 per 15kg carton. Peak window: December-February. Russian and Middle Eastern markets show particularly strong demand for large-count Egyptian Navels.

Explore Now: Navel vs Valencia – Egyptian Orange Import Guide 2026

Mandarins (November – February)

Clementine and Fremont cultivars with exceptional sweetness (11-14° Brix). Seed content 0-2 seeds. Shelf life 20-30 days. Peak window: December-January. Premium positioning in European and Gulf markets.

Lemons (Year-Round)

Year-round availability with 60-90 days shelf life (longest among citrus). Acid content 5-6%, juice content 35-42%. Counts 80-138 per 15kg carton. Peak quality: December-March.

Quality Assurance: Meeting International Standards

When you import citrus fruits from Egypt through PEI Trade, every container undergoes rigorous quality control exceeding international standards.

Certifications & Compliance

Global GAP: We partner exclusively with Global GAP certified citrus suppliers in Egypt, ensuring integrated pest management, full traceability, and MRL compliance for all export markets.
Egyptian AEC Standards: All shipments comply with Egyptian citrus export standards established by the Agricultural Export Council and enforced through CAPQ. Pre-export inspection covers varietal authenticity, pest absence, maturity requirements, and phytosanitary certification.
HACCP & ISO 22000: Our facilities maintain food safety management systems ensuring documented critical control points, temperature monitoring from field to container, and chemical residue testing.

Quality Control Process

Pre-Harvest Assessment (7-10 days before picking): Agronomists measure Brix levels and fruit size distribution
Selective Hand Harvesting: Transport to facilities within 4 hours
Packing Processing (within 6 hours): Pre-cooling, washing, electronic sorting, manual inspection, food-grade waxing
Cold Storage: 4-8°C for 12-24 hours before pre-cooled container loading
Documentation: Complete packing records, temperature logs, phytosanitary certificates

Seasonal Availability: 2026 Export Calendar

Understanding Egypt citrus season 2026 timing enables optimal procurement planning.

November-December: Early Navel oranges and Clementine mandarins at peak. Best pricing window. Highest export volumes begin to Russia and EU.
January-February: Peak Navel production. Egyptian citrus export window for EU at maximum capacity. Transit to Rotterdam: 7-9 days.
March-May: Valencia oranges accelerate with peak quality. Extended EU demand as European production decreases. Favorable pricing due to reduced competition.
June-July: Late-season Valencia from northern regions. Strategic window for summer programs without alternate suppliers.
August-October: Industry gap period. Year-round lemons continue. Planning period for upcoming season.

Logistics & Shipping Solutions

Alexandria Port handles 60% of citrus exports with weekly EU sailings, established cold chain infrastructure, and 2-3 day processing. Damietta Port processes 25% with specialized agricultural facilities and 2-4 day turnaround.

Container Specifications

40-foot High Cube Refrigerated: 1,900-2,100 cartons (26-27 metric tons), temperature 4-8°C, standard 15kg cartons.

Transit Times from Alexandria

Netherlands (Rotterdam): 7-9 days
Italy (Genoa): 5-7 days
Russia (Novorossiysk): 10-12 days
China (Shanghai): 18-22 days
Middle East (Jeddah): 5-6 days

Cold Chain Management

Pre-cooling within 6 hours of harvest, cold storage at 4-8°C until loading, container pre-cooling minimum 2 hours, continuous temperature monitoring with automated alerts throughout transit.

Documentation: Commercial Invoice, Packing List, Bill of Lading, Phytosanitary Certificate (CAPQ), Certificate of Origin, EUR 1 Certificate for EU.

Pricing & Market Intelligence for 2026

Understanding wholesale price trends for Egyptian citrus in 2026 enables strategic procurement. Pricing is influenced by multiple factors including quality grade (premium fruit commands higher margins), fruit size specifications, volume commitments (multi-container programs often secure discounts), payment terms, and seasonal timing.

2026 Market Outlook

Egyptian citrus production continues to grow at an annual rate of 8–10%. The 2 million tons exported in 2025 demonstrates expanding capacity and strong global positioning. European demand remains stable with a growing preference for Mediterranean imports, while Asian markets represent the fastest-growing segment with projected annual growth of 15–20%.

Strategic Timing

Early Season (Nov–Dec): Buyers often secure contracts before peak demand.
Mid-Season (Jan–Mar): Procurement benefits from peak production volumes.
Extended Season (Apr–Jul): Valencia oranges remain available for summer programs.

Why Choose PEI Trade

Direct Grower Relationships: 40+ certified citrus growers across Egypt’s production regions, eliminating intermediaries while ensuring orchard-to-container quality control.
Vertical Integration: Proprietary packing facilities with state-of-the-art sorting technology and 5,000+ metric ton cold storage capacity.
Real-Time Availability: “Live from the Packing Facility” platform provides real-time inventory visibility, harvest schedules, and container loading status.
Quality Guarantee: Commercial compensation or replacement if product arrives not meeting agreed specifications due to our handling deficiencies.

Customer Success Metrics

15,000+ containers to 35 countries since 2015
98.7% quality acceptance rate
Zero phytosanitary rejections in 36 months
2-hour average response time
100% certified supplier network

Conclusion

Egyptian citrus leads agricultural exports with proven quality, competitive pricing, and reliable infrastructure. The 2 million tons exported in 2025 demonstrates Egypt’s commitment to serving global B2B importers with premium varieties throughout extended harvest windows. PEI Trade delivers comprehensive solutions backed by Global GAP certification, transparent quality control, and responsive service. Our direct grower partnerships, vertical integration, and real-time availability system eliminate import complexities while ensuring consistent specifications.

Ready to import premium Egyptian citrus? Contact PEI Trade today for quotations, harvest calendars, and availability confirmation.