Classification
Product TypeRaw Material
Product FormDried
Industry PositionPrimary Agricultural Product
Raw Material
Market
Dried common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris; traded under HS 071333 for dried kidney beans/white pea beans) is produced in Egypt in irrigated agriculture, with cultivation evidenced in Nile Delta governorates such as Beheira and Kafr El-Sheikh and in Upper Egypt governorates such as Assiut and Sohag. Egypt is also an import-dependent consumer market for dried common beans: WITS (UN Comtrade) reports imports of HS 071333 of about USD 12.77 million and 9,525,880 kg in 2023, dominated by Brazil as the main origin by value. Market access and clearance are shaped by NFSA food import oversight (including importer licensing and port sampling/testing) and by the Central Administration of Plant Quarantine (CAPQ) import-permit and phytosanitary framework under Plant Quarantine Decree 562/2019. For traded consignments, Egypt’s ACI/ACID pre-arrival data and document process via the NAFEZA single window is a practical gating factor for shipment flow.
Market RoleNet importer with domestic production
Domestic RoleDomestic consumption pulse; supplied by local production plus imports for wholesale and retail distribution
SeasonalityEgyptian common bean production is managed in planting windows that include late winter/early spring and late summer/early autumn in field studies; a Beheira study reports sowing in mid-February with harvest in June, and an Assiut study evaluates sowing dates spanning mid-February to late March and mid-August to late September for dry seed cultivar trials.
Specification
Primary VarietyGiza 6
Physical Attributes- Clean, pest-free consignments are emphasized for import acceptance; Egypt Plant Quarantine rules include documentation and treatment expectations and, in practice, consignments are inspected for pest/extraneous-material compliance.
Packaging- For imported food products, labeling and identification elements such as production batch/lot are referenced in USDA FAS FAIRS Egypt (EG2024-0018), supporting port sampling and traceability workflows.
Supply Chain
Value Chain- Domestic: farm production (irrigated) → drying → cleaning/sorting → bagging → storage → wholesale/retail distribution
- Imports: overseas supplier → sea freight to Egypt → ACI/ACID pre-arrival filing (NAFEZA) → port sampling/testing and agency clearance (NFSA + CAPQ as relevant) → importer/wholesaler distribution
Temperature- Hot ambient conditions increase quality-loss risk if beans are not adequately dried and protected; moisture control and pest prevention are practical handling priorities.
Shelf Life- Shelf-life is generally long when kept dry, but storage pests and moisture uptake can cause rapid downgrade or treatment needs, increasing cost and clearance risk.
Freight IntensityMedium
Transport ModeSea
Risks
Regulatory Compliance HighNon-compliance with Egypt’s Plant Quarantine import-permit and phytosanitary documentation framework (Decree 562/2019, Annex 8) can block or severely delay entry: import permits are required prior to shipment for covered plant/agricultural consignments and originals of the import permit and phytosanitary certificate must be presented on arrival; mismatches can trigger refusal, treatment, or detention risk.Secure the CAPQ import permit before shipment, ensure the phytosanitary certificate references the import permit number, and align any required treatment certificate to the permit conditions before dispatch.
Logistics MediumFailure to meet ACI/ACID pre-arrival data and document requirements via NAFEZA can cause shipment disruption and clearance delays; USDA FAS FAIRS Egypt (EG2024-0018) describes ACI as generating an ACID number that should be included on shipping documents, and NAFEZA states mandatory operation phase timing for ACI.Coordinate early with the Egyptian importer to generate ACID via NAFEZA and ensure ACID is included across shipping documents and pre-arrival submissions per current ACI procedures.
Food Safety MediumPort sampling/testing and batch-based inspection practices can drive clearance time and rejection risk; USDA FAS FAIRS Egypt (EG2024-0018) describes physical examination committees drawing representative samples and requiring batch numbers for sampling withdrawal.Maintain clear lot/batch segregation and documentation (including production batch/lot identifiers) and provide complete product and shipping documentation to support sampling and traceability expectations.
Climate MediumWater scarcity and irrigation-system constraints in Egypt can pressure domestic production reliability for irrigated crops, increasing reliance on imports and raising price/availability volatility risk.Use multi-origin procurement (domestic + import) and forward purchasing to reduce exposure to domestic irrigation-driven supply variability.
Sustainability- Irrigation-water scarcity and efficiency pressures in Egypt (agriculture is a dominant freshwater user; Nile reliance and water management constraints are highlighted in World Bank results briefs).
FAQ
What is the main trade classification used for dried common beans in Egypt import statistics?A commonly used trade line is HS 071333 (dried kidney beans, including white pea beans, shelled), which is explicitly labeled as Phaseolus vulgaris in UN Comtrade/WITS reporting for Egypt.
Which documents and systems are the most common clearance dependencies for dried common bean shipments into Egypt?For plant/agricultural consignments, Egypt’s Plant Quarantine Decree 562/2019 (Annex 8) requires an import permit obtained before shipment and presentation of the original import permit and original phytosanitary certificate on arrival (plus a treatment certificate where necessary). For customs trade facilitation, Egypt’s ACI system generates an ACID number that should be included on shipping documents and is handled through the NAFEZA single window (as described in USDA FAS FAIRS Egypt EG2024-0018 and NAFEZA ACI pages).
Where did Egypt import most of its HS 071333 dried kidney/white pea beans from in 2023?WITS (UN Comtrade) lists Brazil as the dominant origin by import value for Egypt’s HS 071333 imports in 2023.