Importers rarely search for one crop in isolation. They search by season — “what can I land in March,” “what’s available in summer,” “when does Egyptian garlic ship.” Sourcing decisions are driven by the calendar as much as by the product, because the calendar is what determines availability, pricing, and whether you can run a continuous program or only a spot buy.
This is a seasonal sourcing calendar for wholesale buyers. It covers when Egypt’s core export crops actually ship, which buyer type each one suits, and how they are typically packed — so you can plan pre-season rather than react to whatever is on the spot market.
The Egyptian export crop calendar at a glance
Egypt’s geography gives it a long, overlapping production window. Winter and spring carry the citrus and field-vegetable programs; summer brings grapes and warm-season vegetables. The table below is the quick reference — the sections that follow explain how to use it.
| Crop | Main export window | Buyer type | Typical packaging |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oranges | Nov–May | Retail, wholesale, juice/processing | 10kg / 15kg / 18kg cartons, net bags |
| Potatoes | Nov–May (winter & spring crop) | Wholesale, food service, processing | 10kg / 25kg bags, cartons |
| Tomatoes | Nov–Apr | Wholesale, food service | 5kg / 6kg cartons |
| Onions | Feb–Jun | Wholesale, food service | 5kg / 10kg / 25kg bags, cartons |
| Garlic | Apr–Aug | Wholesale, food service, processing | 5kg / 10kg cartons, mesh bags |
| Spring onion | Nov–May | Retail, wholesale | Bunched cartons |
| Grapes | Jun–Oct | Retail, wholesale | Punnets / open-top cartons |
Exact dates shift slightly by growing region and seasonal conditions, so confirm each window against your target ETD before locking a specification.
Winter crops: oranges, potatoes, tomatoes
Winter is Egypt’s heaviest export season. Three high-volume crops overlap, which makes it the easiest window to consolidate a mixed program.
Oranges (Nov–May) are the crop most buyers ask about first. Washington Navel peaks November–March; Valencia follows March–May, extending the season into spring. The variety you can source depends on when you ship, so a winter landing is usually a Navel program. Full detail — variety selection, calibres, carton formats — is in the Egyptian orange export season guide and on the oranges product page.
Potatoes (Nov–May) run across both the winter and spring crops, which gives a long, reliable export window. They suit wholesale, food service, and processing buyers, and are packed in 10kg or 25kg bags or cartons depending on destination. See the potatoes product page.
Tomatoes (Nov–Apr) ship through the cooler months when field quality and shelf life are strongest, packed in 5kg or 6kg cartons for wholesale and food service. See the tomatoes product page.
Spring onion also belongs to the cool season (Nov–May), bunched and carton-packed for retail and wholesale. See the spring onion product page.
Spring crops: onions, garlic
As citrus tails off, the allium programs come into their own.
Onions (Feb–Jun) are a spring-into-summer crop and one of Egypt’s steadiest export volumes, suited to wholesale and food service buyers. Packaging ranges from 5kg and 10kg consumer bags up to 25kg sacks for bulk programs. See the onions product page.
Garlic (Apr–Aug) starts in spring and carries into summer. It serves wholesale, food service, and processing buyers and is packed in 5kg or 10kg cartons or mesh bags. Because garlic stores and travels well, it is a common choice for buyers who want to hold stock against later demand. See the garlic product page.
Summer crops: grapes and selected vegetables
Grapes (Jun–Oct) are the headline summer crop and the natural counterweight to the winter citrus program — a buyer running both can keep a near year-round Egyptian supply line open. Grapes are retail- and wholesale-driven, packed in punnets or open-top cartons for fresh presentation. See the grapes product page.
Summer also keeps onions and garlic in play at the front of the season, which is why a buyer planning a summer container can often combine grapes with an allium line on the same program.
How buyers should plan pre-season orders
The buyers who get the best availability and pricing are the ones who commit before the season opens, not after it peaks. A few principles:
- Work backwards from your landing date. Your target ETD determines which crops — and which varieties — are even available. Decide when you want product on the shelf, then map it to the calendar above.
- Lock specification early. Calibre, carton format, and label should be agreed before loading, not negotiated mid-season.
- Combine overlapping crops. Winter lets you consolidate oranges, potatoes, tomatoes and spring onion; summer pairs grapes with onions and garlic. Consolidation improves freight economics.
- Flag certification needs upfront. GlobalG.A.P. or destination-specific compliance has to be arranged from certified farms — see European markets and Gulf markets.
- Talk volume for recurring programs. Buyers running season-long supply can align committed volumes and specifications in a pre-season planning call rather than buying shipment by shipment. This is what export coordination exists to handle.
RFQ checklist by crop
Whatever the crop, the same parameters make a request fast to price accurately. Share these upfront:
- Crop and variety — e.g. Navel vs Valencia oranges; white vs red onions
- Calibre / grade — sizing band appropriate to your end use
- Carton or bag format and label — and labelling preference (private, neutral, or supplier label)
- Destination country and port of discharge
- Target ETD window — which also determines crop and variety availability
- Volume — per shipment and, if recurring, per season
- Certification — GlobalG.A.P. or any destination-specific requirement
The more specific the brief, the faster and more accurate the response.
Frequently Asked Questions
What produce does Egypt export?
Egypt exports citrus (oranges, mandarins, lemons), grapes, pomegranates, strawberries, potatoes, onions, garlic, tomatoes, peppers, green beans, herbs, and spring onions. Citrus and onions are the highest-volume categories. Availability is seasonal — each crop has a defined export window.
What months can I import fresh produce from Egypt?
Egypt exports produce year-round, but each crop has its own season. Peak diversity is November–May when citrus, potatoes, onions, and vegetables overlap. Summer months (June–September) are strongest for grapes, garlic, and onions. See the full calendar above.
Is Egyptian produce GlobalG.A.P. certified?
Many Egyptian export farms hold GlobalG.A.P. certification, particularly those supplying European retail. Not all farms are certified — this depends on the exporter and their grower network. Always confirm certification status for your specific crop and volume.
What is the minimum order for Egyptian fresh produce export?
Most exporters work in full-container-load (FCL) quantities — typically one 40ft reefer container per shipment. Depending on crop and density, that is 20–26 tonnes per container. Some exporters consolidate LCL shipments, but FCL is standard for commercial programs.
Which countries import the most Egyptian produce?
Saudi Arabia, Russia, UAE, Netherlands, UK, and various African markets are the largest importers. The Gulf is Egypt’s closest high-volume market. Europe demands higher certification and packaging standards but offers premium pricing.
Request Seasonal Availability & Export Pricing — tell us your crops, target landing window, destination, and volume, and we will come back with availability and pricing across the season.