The Grape Season in Egypt Is Marked by Significant Shifts, Encouraging Exports in 2023

Published 2023년 7월 28일

Egypt's table grape export season began in May, with concerns regarding weather, quality, and logistics. This year's blossoming and growing conditions were difficult, resulting in decreased yields of seedless grapes. With the weather significantly affecting early cultivars like Early Sweet and Prime, growers in Egypt expected a 20 to 30% yield reduction in some areas. Egyptian fresh grape production is estimated to be approximately 1.48 million metric tons, similar to the previous year. In 2023, the EU market, Egypt's primary importer, shows consistent demand. Despite some quality issues at the beginning of the campaign, Egyptian grapes showed competitiveness in the European market.

Egypt's table grape export season started in May with concerns about the weather's influence on grape volumes, quality, and logistical problems. This year's flowering and growing conditions were challenging, resulting in lesser yields of light seedless grapes. Egypt growers anticipated a 20 to 30% crop drop in some locations where early cultivars, such as Early Sweet and Prime, dominate and were the most affected by adverse weather. The situation for dark seedless grapes is better, thanks to a recent expansion of production areas. On the other hand, demand from European countries has been high, and Asia and Africa's regions are emerging as significant trade destinations for Egyptian grape traders.

Overall, Egyptian production of fresh grapes is expected to be around 1.48 million metric tons (mmt), comparable to last year, mainly due to adverse weather effects. Grape production in Egypt should have been greater due to increased acreage if there were no effects of high temperatures, precisely due to high intervals of daily and night temperatures during flowering. Egypt's harvest season for early grape types begins in late May and finishes in September. Late-season harvesting begins in late June and ends in November. The Thompson and Flame seedless cultivars dominate production as the European Union (EU) market, Egypt's primary importer, shows steady demand in 2023.

Source: Tridge and TradeMap

Egypt ranked sixth in global grape exports, shipping a total of 52.6 thousand metric tons (mt) until W24, according to Tridge weekly updates. Egyptian exporters exert pressure on Italian grapes, but Dutch importers prefer Italian grapes due to availability. A giant sandstorm battered Egypt in early June, disrupting traffic, destroying harvests, and damaging agriculture. The sandstorm in Egypt caused slight grape damage, with producers reporting harvest loss, but the damage was minimal. The affected grapes were quickly dealt with and excluded from exports. From W3 to W4 of May-23, availability was poor due to logistical issues in the port of Damiette. According to preliminary reports, Russia has increased import quantities of Egyptian table grapes, although official figures still need to be published. However, farmers are shifting toward higher-value cultivars to supply different markets and match the changing palate of consumer desires worldwide. The Early Superior, Superior, and Roomy are the most popular of these various types. Some Egyptian traders have signed long-term contracts with European supermarket chains, which showed positive results and increased volumes.

Trdige expects further growth of Egyptian grape exports, primarily due to lower prices, unmatched in the European market, despite the consumers' prevalence of Italian and Spanish grapes. In Spain, prices have increased due to limited supply. Italian growers are gripped by the latest in a string of potentially record-breaking heat waves, questioning whether hot summers may severely affect grape production.