With demand for citrus, especially oranges, currently high in Saudi Arabia, Global Star Group is gearing up for the kick-off of the citrus season in Egypt and Spain, major suppliers to the Gulf country.
Kashif Shahzad, head of procurement at the Saudi fruit importer, told Freshplaza, "All citrus fruits are currently in high demand in Saudi Arabia, especially navel Cambria oranges and soft citrus, which are particularly sought after and are at their peak season with high demand and high prices."
He continues, "Last year, Valencia oranges were in peak season during this period. However, due to the massive loading of Valencia oranges at the end of the season, the market is now under pressure in terms of both price and demand. Nevertheless, it is hoped that there will be a slight increase in Valencia orange prices before the Egyptian season begins."
The importer is preparing for the arrival of fresh citrus in a few weeks. He says, "Citrus fruits from South Africa, Uruguay, Turkey, and Australia are currently available in the Saudi Arabian market, with Egypt currently only supplying lemons. However, within the next few weeks, we can expect arrivals from Egypt, Spain, Greece, and Morocco."
Kashif concludes, "We already started to import lemons from Egypt and our program is to receive all other citrus items from December. While news on citrus imports from Egypt to Saudi Arabia remains uncertain, at Global Star we have plans to receive approximately one million boxes of all citrus items in the 2023-2024 season."
Last season, according to official statistics, Saudi Arabia imported 291620 tonnes of Egyptian citrus, making it the second most important market for Egyptian citrus after Russia.
Kashif Shahzad
Global Star Group
Tel: +966 54 788 8332
Email: [email protected]
www.fresh-globalstar.com
