A week of delay for Egyptian strawberries

The export season for Egyptian strawberries is going to be delayed by a week. The reason for the delay is that the Egyptian government has implemented a more thorough legislation with regards to food quality, hygiene and safety.

 

“Normally we’d start this week, but due to the new rules imposed by our government, there is a delay. We’re all forced to acquire certification such as GlobalGAP, PRC and other standards. However, we’ve already passed our audit. We’re just waiting for approval on whether our maximum residue levels (MRL) are suitable for the export market,” explains Wael Soliman of the Egyptian company Horizon Farms. 

 

According to Soliman, the coming season should see strawberries with great quality. The export volumes might however be lower than usual, as a lot of smaller Egyptian companies aren’t yet able to live up to the newly implemented requirements. “Our company is in full control of its MRL and our quality is good. We think our first shipments will hit Germany, the Netherlands, the UK and the Czech Republic around the 20th of November,” says Soliman.

 

Overall, the Egyptian strawberry harvest is set to increase in volume by 30%. At the beginning of the season, the Egyptian strawberries will be more expensive due to a lack of supply. “The Netherlands are still producing strawberries, but Dutch growers are forced to use greenhouses due to the cold weather. This makes Dutch strawberries very expensive, so we’re not afraid of Dutch competition on the European market.”

 

However, the Egyptian strawberry sector does have its own issues that increase pricing. “We usually send our produce to the Netherlands by air freight through the Dutch airline KLM. Last year, KLM planes would arrive to and from Cairo every day. This year, there are only two flights per week.” According to Soliman, alternative routes can be found through other European cities such as Cologne, but these are about 10% to 15% more expensive than direct flights to Amsterdam.

 

The Netherlands is an important market for Egyptian strawberry growers and exporters. About 60% of the total strawberry production is sent to this country, with most fruit being of class 1 varieties. Dutch companies re-export Egyptian strawberries to other European markets, such as the UK and Scandinavia. Class 2 varieties are sent to markets in the Middle East. The main competition during the Egyptian season comes from Morocco and Spain, with their strawberry seasons starting from the middle of December. 

 

In spite of the current the issues surrounding air freight logistics, Soliman is optimistic about the new campaign. “We’ve got a good season, with great varieties and an efficient system. We’ve acquired all necessary certificates. Everything is going to be fine,” says Soliman in conclusion.

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