Egypt Citrus Export Season 2026

Egypt has become the anchor of the global orange trade. In 2025 the country shipped more than 2.2 million tonnes of citrus and held its position as the world’s largest fresh-orange exporter for the sixth consecutive year, ahead of both Spain and South Africa. For importers, wholesalers and retail buyers planning their 2026 programs, that makes Egypt less an alternative origin and more a core one.

This guide breaks down what a B2B buyer needs for the 2026 Egyptian citrus season: the harvest calendar, the main export varieties and their specifications, sizing and packing, logistics, and the certifications and documents that protect every shipment.

Why Source Citrus from Egypt in 2026

Citrus is Egypt’s single largest agricultural export, and oranges lead the category. According to Egypt’s agricultural quarantine authority, total agricultural exports passed USD 11.5 billion in 2025, with citrus taking the biggest share. For international buyers, a few structural advantages stand out:

• Scale and reliability. Egypt ships to well over 100 countries each season, backed by large commercial orchards, modern packhouses and established cold-chain logistics.
• A growing supply base. The USDA Foreign Agricultural Service projects Egyptian orange production rising toward roughly 4.0 million tonnes in 2025/26, supported by favourable weather and new orchards reaching maturity.
• Competitive pricing. A favourable cost structure lets Egyptian citrus support attractive retail prices even when freight markets are volatile.
• Expanding market access. In 2025, Egyptian oranges and grapefruit gained entry to new destinations including the Philippines, Australia and Venezuela, adding to an already broad export map.

Egypt Citrus Export Calendar 2026

The official Egyptian citrus export season opens around 1 December, with early varieties actually moving from November. Different varieties peak in sequence, giving buyers a supply window that stretches across most of the year. The table below summarises the typical 2026 season.

January and February are typically the highest-volume months for Navel oranges into Europe, while Valencia takes over from March as European domestic supply declines — often the most favourable pricing window of the season.

Key Egyptian Citrus Varieties & Specifications

Navel Oranges

The flagship of the early season: seedless, easy to peel, deeply coloured and sweet, which makes them ideal for fresh consumption and supermarket programs. Typical calibers run from 48 to 113 per 15 kg carton. See our Navel oranges for full specifications.

Valencia Oranges

The late-season workhorse, prized for high juice content and one of the longest shelf lives among citrus. Valencia keeps Egyptian supply flowing into the summer when few competing origins are active. Explore our Valencia oranges.

Baladi Oranges

A traditional Egyptian orange with a balanced, rounded sweetness. Baladi is a strong performer in regional and Middle Eastern markets and for juicing.

Mandarins

Easy-peel and aromatic, with high sugar levels (commonly 11–14° Brix) and low seed counts. Egyptian mandarins earn premium positioning in European and Gulf markets during the early season. See our fresh mandarins.

Grapefruit

Offered in red and Star Ruby types, combining juicy flesh with a balanced sweet-tart profile that suits both retail shelves and juicing. Browse our grapefruit.

Lemons

Bright acidity, strong aroma and excellent juice yield, with availability across most of the year. See our fresh lemons.

Sizes, Grading & Packaging

Egyptian citrus is graded to international standards and packed to each buyer’s specification. Common export formats include:

• Calibers. Oranges are sized by count per carton (for example 48, 56, 64, 72, 80, 88, 100 and 113); grapefruit and lemons follow their own count scales.
• Cartons. Telescopic cartons of 15 kg are standard, with alternative weights and open-top or mesh formats available on request.
• Container loading. A 40-foot reefer container typically carries around 24–27 tonnes depending on packaging and pallet configuration.
• Cold chain. Fruit is pre-cooled and shipped under temperature control to preserve firmness, colour and shelf life through long transit.

Logistics: Ports, Reefers & Incoterms

Alexandria handles the majority of Egypt’s citrus exports and offers regular sailings to Europe, with Damietta serving as a major secondary gateway. Transit from Alexandria to Rotterdam typically runs about 7–9 days, making Egypt one of the faster origins into Northern Europe.

Shipments are commonly arranged on FOB, CFR or CIF Incoterms. We can quote against your preferred term, destination port and loading schedule so that pricing and responsibilities are clear before booking.

Quality, Certifications & Documentation

Egyptian citrus destined for export is produced within a framework of internationally recognised standards, commonly including GlobalG.A.P., HACCP and ISO 22000, alongside the Agricultural Export Council standards and farm-to-market traceability coding. Standard export documentation typically covers:

• Phytosanitary Certificate issued by the Egyptian plant-quarantine authority.
• Certificate of Origin confirming Egyptian origin.
• EUR.1 movement certificate, where applicable, for preferential tariff treatment into the EU under the Egypt–EU Association Agreement.
• Quality and packing specifications agreed per order, including caliber, grade and labelling.

Contact us for our current certifications and the documentation package available for your destination market.

Top Destination Markets

The Netherlands, Russia and Saudi Arabia remain the three largest buyers of Egyptian oranges, with the United Arab Emirates, India and Spain also among the leading destinations. Beyond these anchors, Egyptian exporters continue to open newer markets across Eastern Europe, the Americas, West Africa and Central Asia — a diversification that adds resilience to supply programs from season to season.

How to Order Egyptian Citrus for 2026

Al-Shalaan Group supplies export-grade Egyptian citrus — oranges, mandarins, grapefruit and lemons — packed to your specification and loading schedule. To build a 2026 program:

1. Tell us the variety, caliber and monthly volume you need.
2. Confirm your destination port and preferred Incoterm.
3. We return a quotation with packing options, documentation and loading timeline.

Browse the full range in our fresh fruits catalogue or shop, and get in touch to request a quote.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does the Egyptian citrus export season start in 2026?

The official season opens around 1 December, with early Navel oranges and mandarins moving from November. Valencia oranges extend supply from February into June, and lemons are available for most of the year.

What are the main Egyptian orange varieties for export?

The primary export varieties are Navel (early, seedless and sweet) and Valencia (late, high in juice), supported by Baladi oranges, along with mandarins, grapefruit and lemons.

What packaging and container quantities are standard?

Telescopic cartons of 15 kg are standard, sized by count per carton. A 40-foot reefer typically loads about 24–27 tonnes depending on packaging and pallet configuration.

Which certifications apply to Egyptian citrus exports?

Export programs commonly operate under GlobalG.A.P., HACCP and ISO 22000, with a phytosanitary certificate, certificate of origin and — for the EU — an EUR.1 certificate among the standard documents.

How long is shipping from Egypt to Europe?

Transit from Alexandria to Rotterdam is typically about 7–9 days, with regular weekly sailings during the season.

Planning your 2026 citrus program? Explore our citrus range and contact Al-Shalaan Group to request a quotation tailored to your market.