The Egyptian red onion season is in full swing and although production is slightly down, orders can still be fulfilled. Although Egypt has been spared from coronavirus for the most part, the effects can still be felt in the increase in freight rates.
According to Ibrahim Shehab, owner of Egypt Overseas, the season is going well so far. Although volumes are down a bit, he’s confident they can still meet all demand: “We’re looking at less production compared to previous year, however historically Egypt has always been able to cover any requirement. I work from the Netherlands myself, as I distribute the Egyptian onions in the United Kingdom, Poland and Germany. The sizes are 50 and up, which we export in jumbo bags for peeling companies. There are also plentiful 40 and up sizes available for export.”
The big challenge has been getting good deals on transport, as freight rates have been increased all over the world. Shehab has contacted Dutch importers to see if they could be of any help. “Shipping lines have been increasing the freight rates, sometimes even by 40 per cent. We’re checking with Dutch importers to see if they can help us lower these rates in any way. There’s also a shortage of refrigerated containers coming from China, which could also have an effect on prices,“ he concludes.
For more information:
Ibrahim Shehab
Egypt Overseas
Tel: +20 100 584 5808
Email: egyptoverseas@yahoo.com
www.egyptoverseas.com