Lemons will open the Egyptian citrus season in October. Growers are already harvesting, and exporters are awaiting the official launch of the citrus campaign by the Egyptian authorities.
Mahmoud Esawy, export manager of Al Wessam Company for Agri Crops, told FreshPlaza, "Our lemons are now harvested and coloring, to be ready for export in October. Calendars will be available from October to April. There is no change in the most produced varieties, which are Eureka, Adialia, and Verna."
This season's lemon volumes, at the national level, will exceed those of last season, according to Esawy. He says, "Last season demand was very strong, especially from African, East Asian, and European markets. The Egyptian campaign is starting at a time when stocks are falling globally. For all these reasons there is an increase in acreage and volumes of lemon and citrus in general."
Official statistics show that Egypt exported over 94 thousand tonnes of lemons in the 2022/2023 season, 12% more than the previous season. The most widely exported variety is Adalia, and the biggest market is Saudi Arabia, which accounts for over half of exports.
Regarding fruit sizes for the upcoming season, Esawy reassures, "We have sizes for all preferences, starting from 72/80/88 to 100/113/125/138. In the lemons sector, size preference differs from market to market."
"Competition will be tough among Egyptian exporters, and internationally as the season progresses," says Esawy, "But things are more predictable this year, as we have a good crop in good volumes, so there will be a good outcome."
The exporter concludes, "At Al Wessam, we made the choice to accompany the evolution in demand by focusing on improving in quality, including that of produce and packaging. We have made great strides and next season promises to be a success."
For more information:
Mahmoud Esawy
Al Wessam Company for Agri Crops
Tel/WhatsApp/WeChat: +201114061313
Email: mahmodesawy@alwessam-eg.com