Egypt maintains strong position in citrus
Growers in Egypt anticipate a rewarding citrus season, with prices expected to remain good despite rising volumes and new markets opening up for exporters
Last season, citrus exports from Egypt reached 1.8m tonnes, and with production continuing to increase, that figure is projected to keep on rising, according to Ahmed Ghazy, export director at Capital Agro Co. The country has been the top exporter for oranges for the last three years, and declines from rival producing countries, the result of extreme weather, could bode well for Egyptian growers.
Egyptian citrus production extends over nearly 200,000ha, not just oranges, but tangerines, lemons, grapefruits and other varieties. Oranges are number one, accounting for 85 per cent of total citrus exports, according to data from the Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture.