Egyptian Valencia oranges enter the market amid tensions in the Red Sea

Egyptian exporters have begun marketing their calendars of Valencia oranges, which account for the bulk of Egyptian citrus volumes, amid geopolitical tensions and climate change troubles. For Mohamed Maatouk, CEO of Egyptian Emirati, "It's essential to stay in tune with customer concerns and converge our efforts to overcome the crisis".

Maatouk says, "We started the 2023/2024 citrus season with high spirits and high hopes, given the great improvement in citrus quality and volumes in Egypt this season. Climate change has manifested itself in a rather positive way for Egyptian citrus, as we started the season earlier than expected due to warmer temperatures, which allows an extended export season. Overall, climate disruptions led to an exceptional quality of oranges, and a balance of sizes unlike last season."

However, the climate has been less clement in many other parts of the world, and this has created changes in the trade that reached Egypt. Maatouk says, "Spanish exporters have massively arrived in Egypt to establish contracts and to be able to guarantee continuous supply for their markets. It's a new parameter in the competition map, and heralds a very competitive season."