Better knowledge has led to more spring onions being harvested in Egypt that are suitable for export to Europe, says Mohamed Ammar of Egyptian fresh produce exporter Egypt Fruits & Vegetables Export: "This spring onion season has been positive overall. The weather conditions have been relatively stable, which has helped achieve good quality and uniformity in the spring onions. The farms we work with have maintained strong production and consistent sizing, which is important for export quality. Compared to previous years, production has been slightly higher, mainly due to improved farm management and better coordination with packing stations. Farmers have become more familiar with European specifications, which helps ensure more exportable volumes."
Over the past few years, imports of Egyptian spring onions into Europe have seen a solid increase, which has also translated into more orders for Ammar's company. "European demand continues to grow steadily. According to the ITC Trade Map, European imports of Egyptian spring onions have increased by around 22% over the past year, showing strong and consistent interest. We've noticed more inquiries from importers in Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands, which are our main export destinations. We're also exploring new opportunities in Italy, where importers are increasingly open to Egyptian products due to quality improvements and competitive pricing."
© Egypt Fruits & Vegetables Export
There's still work to be done to maintain the level of quality that European importers demand, Ammar explains: "The main challenges are related to logistics and maintaining consistent quality during peak production. We overcome these by working closely with reliable farms and packing stations, monitoring the process on the ground, and ensuring that the cold chain and timing are managed precisely. We've recently invested in improved post-harvest handling and better packaging solutions. We're also working on digital traceability to provide importers with more transparency about the product's origin and handling process."
Overall, Ammar feels the Egyptian produce is becoming more prominent in the European markets. "We believe Egypt has strong potential to further expand in the European market, especially with products like spring onions. Our focus is to build long-term partnerships based on trust, quality, and reliability, not just short-term transactions," he concludes.
For more information:
Mohamed Ammar
Egypt Fruits & Vegetables Export
Tel: +20 1028921045
[email protected]
