Egypt surpasses Spain and Morocco in Canadian orange market

With a proactive approach to expanding its export horizons, Egypt is reshaping the dynamics of these burgeoning markets for its horticultural goods. Notably, in the first quarter of this year, Egypt's orange exports to Canada have already surpassed the total for all of 2023, establishing a new record for market deliveries, as reported by EastFruit.

Between January and March 2024, Canadian importers have sourced 9,000 tons of oranges from Egypt, a significant increase from the slightly over 3,500 tons during the same timeframe last year. Furthermore, the import volume for the entirety of 2023 was a mere 7,600 tons. Given that Egyptian oranges typically remain available in Canada until June, the cumulative figure for this year is poised to be even more impressive.

"As the world's fourteenth largest orange importer, Canada, alongside Brazil, is becoming a pivotal market for Egyptian exports in the Americas. While shipment volumes to Canada are still modest compared to the EU, Russia, or various Asian markets, Egypt's growing presence in Canada marks a notable triumph for its agricultural sector. Canada is recognized as one of the most lucrative global markets, offering more accessible entry conditions than, say, the USA," remarks Yevhen Kuzin, Fruit & Vegetable Market Analyst at EastFruit.

Additionally, Egypt, which ranked fourth in orange supply to Canada in 2023, is on track to claim the third spot this year, provided current trends hold, trailing only behind the USA and South Africa. Meanwhile, Spain and Morocco, Egypt's primary rivals, have not seen comparable growth in their Canadian exports. In fact, Canadian importers have halved their imports from these two countries to 4,300 tons and 3,400 tons, respectively, in the first quarter of 2024, relative to last year.