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When buyers think of Egyptian produce, citrus usually comes first — but the country’s vegetables are where much of the 2026 sourcing opportunity sits. In 2025, fresh potatoes were Egypt’s second-largest agricultural export at roughly 1.3 million tonnes, and onions, sweet potatoes, beans and garlic all featured among the country’s top shipped crops. For importers and wholesalers building their 2026 programs, Egypt offers scale, off-season timing and prices that protect margins.
This guide focuses on the three vegetables driving demand — onions, potatoes and garlic — with the calendars, specifications and logistics a B2B buyer needs to plan a season.
Why Source Vegetables from Egypt in 2026
Egypt’s agricultural exports reached record levels in 2025, with total agricultural export value passing USD 11.5 billion. A few structural advantages make its vegetables especially attractive to international buyers:
- Off-season timing. Egypt harvests onions, potatoes and garlic when many Northern-Hemisphere producers are out of season, filling supply gaps in Europe, the Gulf and Asia.
- Scale and concentration. Large commercial growers and packhouses allow consistent, container-volume supply of uniform quality.
- Competitive landed cost. Lower production and freight costs — particularly into Europe and the Middle East — help importers improve margins.
- Supply diversification. For garlic in particular, buyers looking to reduce reliance on a single origin increasingly turn to Egypt as a reliable alternative.
1. Egyptian Onions
Egypt is one of the world’s largest onion producers and a top-tier exporter, shipping around 288,000 tonnes in 2025 to markets led by Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, Pakistan, the Netherlands and Kuwait. A key advantage is timing: Egyptian onions are harvested during a window when several major producers are out of season, making them a critical source for continuous supply.
- Varieties: Golden/yellow, red and white, plus traditional Baladi types.
- Sizes: Graded by diameter — typically 40–60, 60–80 and 80–100 mm.
- Packaging: Mesh bags of 5, 10, 20 or 25 kg, or to buyer specification.
- Season: Available across most of the year, with peak export volumes from late winter into spring.
See specifications for our fresh onions.
2. Egyptian Potatoes
Potatoes are Egypt’s second-largest agricultural export, with about 1.3 million tonnes shipped in 2025. Egyptian potatoes play a critical role as an off-season supplier to European markets — notably Italy and Spain — while demand from Asian importers continues to grow. They serve both the fresh table market and processing.
- Varieties: Spunta, Diamant and Cara are among the most widely exported.
- Sizes: Common grades of 45–65, 65–75 and +75 mm.
- Packaging: Bags or cartons of 10, 20 or 25 kg, washed or brushed to spec.
- Season: Two main windows — roughly January–May and October–December.
See specifications for our fresh potatoes.
3. Egyptian Garlic
Egyptian garlic has gained ground as a leading alternative to other major origins, valued for its large, firm bulbs and strong, pungent flavour that suits Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine. Egypt ranks among the world’s largest garlic producers, and buyers seeking to diversify supply increasingly source from it.
- Types: White garlic (sharp, popular in Europe) and red garlic (more robust, favoured in Asian markets); available fresh (green) and dry.
- Season: Green garlic from February; dry garlic from April.
- Top markets: Spain, Italy, Brazil and the Gulf.
- Strengths: Strong aroma, early-season availability, long shelf life and lower freight cost to Europe.
See specifications for our fresh garlic.
Other Notable Egyptian Vegetables for 2026
Beyond the top three, several categories are worth a buyer’s attention:
- Sweet potatoes. The Beauregard variety — deep orange, smooth-skinned and long-keeping — is in strong demand across the UK, Netherlands and Germany from August to February. See our sweet potatoes.
- Carrots. EU imports of Egyptian carrots have grown sharply. Browse our carrots.
- Green beans. Fine and extra-fine grades favoured by European retail chains during their off-season. See our green beans.
Egypt Vegetable Export Calendar 2026
| Vegetable | Peak Export Window | Key Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Onions | Most of the year (peak late winter–spring) | Saudi Arabia, UK, Netherlands, Gulf |
| Potatoes | January–May & October–December | Italy, Spain, EU, Asia |
| Garlic | Green from Feb; dry from April | Spain, Italy, Brazil, Gulf |
| Sweet Potatoes | August–February | UK, Netherlands, Germany |
| Carrots | November–May | EU, Gulf |
| Green Beans | October–May (frozen year-round) | EU retail |
Sizes, Packaging & Logistics
Egyptian vegetables are graded to international standards and packed to each buyer’s specification. Onions and potatoes are commonly shipped in mesh bags or cartons; a 40-foot reefer or ventilated container typically carries around 24–27 tonnes depending on packaging and pallet configuration. Alexandria and Damietta are the main export gateways, with regular sailings to Europe and short transit times into the Mediterranean and Northern Europe. Shipments are arranged on FOB, CFR or CIF terms to suit your destination.
Quality, Certifications & Documentation
Export programs commonly operate within recognised standards such as GlobalG.A.P., HACCP and BRC, supported by farm-to-market traceability. Standard documentation typically includes a phytosanitary certificate, certificate of origin and — for the EU — an EUR.1 movement certificate for preferential tariff treatment. Contact us for our current certifications and the documentation package for your market.
How to Order Egyptian Vegetables for 2026
Al-Shalaan Group supplies export-grade Egyptian onions, potatoes, garlic and a full range of fresh and frozen vegetables, packed to your specification and loading schedule. To build a 2026 program:
- Tell us the product, grade/caliber and monthly volume you need.
- Confirm your destination port and preferred Incoterm.
- We return a quotation with packing options, documentation and a loading timeline.
Browse the full range in our fresh vegetables catalogue or shop, and get in touch to request a quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Egypt’s top vegetable exports in 2026?
Potatoes lead as Egypt’s second-largest agricultural export overall, followed by onions, sweet potatoes, beans and garlic, with carrots and green beans also growing strongly.
When is the Egyptian onion export season?
Egyptian onions are available for most of the year, with peak export volumes from late winter into spring — a window that often coincides with off-season supply gaps in other producing regions.
Which potato varieties does Egypt export?
Spunta, Diamant and Cara are among the most widely exported, serving both fresh table and processing markets, in two main windows of roughly January–May and October–December.
Why are buyers sourcing Egyptian garlic?
Egyptian garlic offers large, firm bulbs and strong flavour, early-season availability, long shelf life and competitive freight to Europe, making it a reliable alternative for buyers diversifying their supply.
What packaging is standard for onions and potatoes?
Onions are typically packed in mesh bags of 5–25 kg; potatoes in bags or cartons of 10–25 kg. Both can be graded and packed to buyer specification.
Planning your 2026 vegetable program? Explore our vegetable range and contact Al-Shalaan Group for a quotation tailored to your market.