Egyptian Grapes Exporter Guide: Table Grapes and Pomegranates by Season

Buyers searching for an Egyptian grapes exporter are usually after one thing: early fruit. Egypt's table grapes reach Europe, the UK and the Gulf from late May, weeks before most Northern Hemisphere supply, and the country exported 191,000 tons of grapes and 136,000 tons of pomegranates in 2025². The two crops share packhouses, cold chains and many of the same exporters, but their calendars are almost mirror images: grapes open the summer, pomegranates carry the autumn. This guide sets out varieties, seasons, markets and the checks that protect your programme.

Two crops, two windows

Most of Egypt's grape crop is eaten at home. The USDA expects domestic consumption of about 1.45 million tons in MY 2025/26, against exports forecast at 220,000 tons, up 2.3% on the previous year¹. That matters for buyers: export-grade fruit comes from a relatively small group of specialised farms, so early booking with proven growers is important.

Table grapes: varieties and season

What Egypt grows for export

The established export varieties are Flame Seedless, Superior Seedless (Sugraone) and Early Sweet¹. Growers are shifting towards seedless, premium licensed varieties such as Autumn Crisp and Arra to match international consumer demand¹. In the 2026 early season, exporters focused on Early Sweet and Prime Seedless, followed by Superior and then red Flame Seedless about a week later³.

Season calendar

According to the USDA, early-season varieties are harvested from late May through September and late-season varieties from late June through November¹.

The 2026 opening was good. Exporters reported steady orders and fair prices after stable winter and spring weather, though high packaging and shipping costs squeezed margins³. Importers were satisfied with Brix, crunchiness, sizing and shelf life, which are the attributes that decide whether Egyptian grapes survive the longer sea routes³.

Markets

The UK, Russia, the Netherlands and Middle Eastern countries lead demand, with the UK and Russia showing significant growth in MY 2024/25¹. In 2026, exporters also shipped to the GCC and to newly opened Central and South American markets, including Panama³.

Pomegranates: from 116 to Wonderful

Varieties and timing

Egypt's commercial pomegranate varieties include Wonderful, Early 116, Baladi, Manfaloti and Taif⁴. The season is staggered:

• Sour varieties start first, from about late July⁵.
• 116 (Early 116) follows in mid-August and is mostly destined for European processing⁵.
• Wonderful starts in October. With higher Brix, it is the main fresh-market variety for Russia, Europe and Arab countries⁵.

Production is described by the trade as stable and abundant, at around 800,000 tons a year⁵.

Markets and growth

Pomegranate exports have grown quickly. In January–September 2025, Egypt earned about $78.1 million from pomegranate exports, up 40% year on year, across 52 markets⁴. The UAE took about $39 million, roughly half of the total, followed by Syria at $24 million and Russia at $4 million⁴. This marks a change from 2023, when Iraq and Syria were the leading buyers⁴. The International Trade Centre has identified the Netherlands, France and the UAE as markets with significant untapped potential for Egyptian pomegranates⁴.

Competition is strong. Iran, India and Oman compete in the same markets, and exporters said in 2026 that they were focusing on established buyers in Russia and Europe rather than opening new markets⁵.

Quality and compliance checks

Neither table grapes nor pomegranates from Egypt are currently listed for increased EU border checks under Regulation (EU) 2019/1793; the Egyptian products on that list include oranges, strawberries, peppers, mangoes and vine leaves⁶. This is no reason to relax. Standard EU controls and retailer audits still apply, and lists change regularly.

Before signing a programme, check:

1. Farm and packhouse registration: written confirmation that the farm and packhouse are registered for export, with their codes.
2. Certificates: GLOBALG.A.P. at farm level and a GFSI-recognised standard at the packhouse for European retail.
3. Residue testing: recent multi-residue reports against your market's maximum residue levels, lot by lot for the first shipments.
4. Grapes specification: variety, berry size, Brix, colour for reds, bunch weight, packaging format and whether SO2 pads are used and permitted in your market.
5. Pomegranate specification: variety, size count per carton, skin colour and defects, Brix and acidity, and whether fruit is for fresh retail or processing.
6. Cold chain: pre-cooling practice, reefer settings and transit times, which are especially critical for grapes.
7. Licensed varieties: for newer proprietary grapes, confirm the grower holds a valid licence to market the variety in your country.

For documents, payment and inspection steps, see our buyer's guide to importing from Egypt.

How Egypt Rise helps buyers source fruit

Egypt Rise is a free, bilingual B2B platform where Egyptian farms, packhouses and cold stores publish export catalogues with HS codes, minimum order quantities, capacity, certificates and accepted Incoterms. Buyers contact suppliers directly, with no commission.

• Shortlist farms and packhouses by governorate and certification.
• Search the product catalogue for table grapes (HS 0806.10) and pomegranates (HS 0810.90).
• Planning a citrus programme as well? Our guide to the Egyptian orange season covers the winter and spring window.

Listings are supplier-declared. Verify certificates, registrations and lab results independently before you commit.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Egyptian table grape season?

Early varieties are harvested from late May through September and late varieties from late June through November¹. The earliest shipments are white seedless varieties such as Early Sweet and Prime Seedless³.

Which grape varieties does Egypt export?

Mainly Flame Seedless, Superior Seedless (Sugraone) and Early Sweet, with growing volumes of premium seedless varieties such as Autumn Crisp and Arra¹.

When are Egyptian Wonderful pomegranates available?

Wonderful starts in October. Earlier varieties, sour types and 116, start from late July and mid-August⁵.

Who buys Egyptian pomegranates?

In January–September 2025 the UAE was the largest market, taking about half of export value, followed by Syria and Russia⁴.

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This article is general information for buyers, not legal or regulatory advice. Seasons shift with weather, and import rules and inspection lists change; always confirm current requirements with the official authorities before contracting.