Egyptian Olives Exporter Guide: Table Olives and Olive Oil in 2026

If you are looking for an Egyptian olives exporter, you are looking at one of the heavyweights of the table olive trade. According to the International Olive Council (IOC), Egypt produced 750,000 tonnes of table olives in 2023/24, out of a world total of 2.797 million tonnes — roughly one in every four table olives grown worldwide¹. Olive oil is a different story: Egypt's oil output is modest and almost all of it is consumed at home².

This guide explains what Egypt really exports, where the olives come from, which standards apply, and how to qualify a supplier.

Egypt in the world olive market: the numbers

The IOC publishes balance sheets for each producing member. Egypt joined the IOC on 3 May 2018 by acceding to the International Agreement on Olive Oil and Table Olives, 2015³. Its latest figures show a large, domestically driven table olive sector with a meaningful export surplus, and a small oil sector.

Three things stand out for buyers:

• Egypt eats most of its own olives. Domestic table olive consumption was 560,000 tonnes in 2023/24 and an estimated 550,000 tonnes in 2025/26¹. Export availability therefore swings with the harvest.
• Volumes are volatile. Exports fell from 181,000 to 80,000 tonnes between 2023/24 and 2024/25¹. In 2021, heatwaves followed by frost cut yields by 50–80% in many regions⁷. Build alternative suppliers and some flexibility on shipment dates into your plan.
• Oil is mainly a domestic product. With olive oil exports at about 1,000 tonnes forecast for 2025/26², Egypt is not a bulk olive oil origin. Small premium lots exist, but most export opportunity lies in table olives.

Olives also belong to Egypt's broader food export story. In 2025 Egypt's food industry exports reached a record of nearly $7 billion, and olives are listed among the main export products⁸.

Where Egyptian olives grow and which varieties to ask for

Olive growing developed mainly along the north-west coast, between Alexandria and Sollum, with further areas in North Sinai and the oases⁴. Olive Oil Times reported that the northern belt from Matrouh to El-Moghra suits oil varieties, while southern areas are better for table olives⁷. Planted area expanded from 31,000 hectares in 1995 to more than 103,000 hectares by 2018⁷.

Local table olive varieties you will see on offers include⁴:

• Aggezi Shami — the most widespread variety, about 20% of orchards, used for green and stuffed olives.
• Toffahi — a large-fruited variety, about 6% of the area, mainly for green pickling.
• Hamed — about 6% of the area, used for green and black pickling.

For oil, the IOC policy profile names Wateken (high in oleic acid) and Maraki⁴. Many newer orchards also grow imported varieties, so always ask the supplier to state the variety on the specification sheet.

Quality standards: what to put in your specification

The global reference for table olives is the IOC Trade Standard Applying to Table Olives (COI/OT/NC no. 1)⁵. Most importers in Europe, the Gulf and the Americas write their specifications around it, even when their own national rules apply.

Type (ripeness): green, turning colour, or black⁵.

Style: whole, pitted, stuffed (for example with pimiento or anchovy), sliced, halved or other styles such as paste⁵.

Size: graded by count per kilogram, from 60/70 for the largest fruit to 381/410 and smaller; size grading is mandatory for whole, pitted and stuffed styles⁵.

Trade category: Extra/Fancy, First/Choice/Select, or Second/Standard, depending on colour, shape, skin and firmness defects⁵.

Brine: the standard sets minimum salt and acidity and maximum pH for the packing brine after equilibrium. For example, natural olives need at least 6% sodium chloride, a pH no higher than 4.3 and at least 0.3% lactic acidity⁵.

For olive oil sold in the EU, the category names and chemical limits come from Regulation (EU) 2022/2104, which applies from 24 November 2022; extra virgin olive oil, for example, must have free acidity of no more than 0.80%⁶. Ask for a recent full analysis from an accredited lab, not just an acidity figure.

A buyer's checklist for Egyptian olive suppliers

A few practical tips:

1. Contract early in the season. Because domestic demand absorbs most of the crop, the best lots are committed fast.
2. Ask for pre-shipment samples from the actual lot, sealed and labelled, and keep a retained sample.
3. Specify packaging for the route. Bulk drums in brine travel differently from retail jars; agree on labelling language and shelf-life dates in the contract.
4. Check certificate validity directly with the certification body, not only from a PDF.

Bulk or retail?

Egyptian table olive exporters typically offer two routes. Bulk olives in brine, shipped in drums or large containers, suit repackers and food manufacturers who will grade, pit, stuff or slice the fruit at destination. Retail-ready packs — jars, cans or pouches, often under the buyer's private label — suit importers who sell straight to supermarkets or food service. Retail packs cost more per kilo but cut processing at your end; bulk gives you more control over the final product. Whichever route you choose, agree labelling language, drained weight and best-before dates in writing before production starts.

How Egypt Rise helps

Egypt Rise is a free bilingual B2B platform where Egyptian farms, packhouses and food factories publish export catalogues with HS codes, MOQ, capacity, certificates and Incoterms. You can browse Egyptian food products, shortlist olive farms and processing factories, and contact suppliers directly with no commission. If you are new to the market, our buyer's guide to importing from Egypt covers payment, inspection and shipping, and our guide to halal food from Egypt explains certification for Gulf and Asian buyers.

Frequently asked questions

Is Egypt a major olive oil exporter?

No. Egypt produced about 50,000 tonnes of olive oil in 2025/26 according to IOC provisional figures, with exports of only about 1,000 tonnes². Its strength is table olives.

How much table olives does Egypt export?

IOC data show 181,000 tonnes in 2023/24, 80,000 tonnes in 2024/25 and a provisional 100,000 tonnes in 2025/26¹.

Which standard should I use to specify table olives?

The IOC Trade Standard Applying to Table Olives (COI/OT/NC no. 1) defines types, styles, size counts, trade categories and brine limits⁵.

Where are Egyptian olives grown?

Mainly on the north-west coast between Alexandria and Sollum, plus North Sinai and the oases⁴.

This article is general information for buyers. Production data are revised each season and import rules change; always check the latest figures with the International Olive Council and the requirements of your own food authority.