Egyptian exports of fresh citrus fruit have fallen sharply this year, due to internal competition with processing plants, a situation that other produce exporters, such as those in the green beans sector, have been experiencing for many years.
Mohamed Fooad, co-founder of Egyfarm, points out that exports of fresh green beans are down for the third year running, in favor of frozen and canned products, and adds: "This season is a continuation of this trend. We are seeing a steady increase in Egyptian IQF green beans, while exports of fresh products are down. The drop in fresh export volumes is, however, being rewarded by higher value and stronger market positioning."
The grower explains, "Although acreage remained stable, the average export price for fresh green beans increased by 37% in 2023, reflecting improved quality standards. In particular, frozen green bean exports increased by 15%, exceeding 50,000 metric tons last year - an indication of the growing global demand for processed, high-safety vegetables."
This situation occurs despite a favorable seasonality for the export of fresh green beans, as Fooad says, «Our green bean harvest typically runs from June to September, with peak supply aligning with export demand across Europe, North America, and the Middle East.
And just as the major citrus exporters are launching concentrate plants, the trend has already been observed in the green bean sector, according to Fooad: "We are increasing our IQF capacity and strengthening traceability to meet changing buyer expectations. Egyptian green beans are no longer competing on price alone, but on reliability, food safety, and consistency, against giants like India and China."
Russia remains the main destination for fresh Egyptian green beans, according to Fooad, who concludes: "More than half our volumes go to Russia, around 25% to the USA, and 16% to Uganda. As for demand for frozen and processed green beans, it is dominated by Germany, the United Kingdom, and Saudi Arabia."
Mohamed Fooad
Egyfarm
Tel: +201123570777 / +201277778824 / +201277778825
Email: [email protected]
www.egyfarm.co