In the last few years, Egypt has made a tremendous achievement by increasing its citrus exports to Brazil, going from only 75 tons of exports in 2020 to more than 14,000 tons in 2023. Exports have reached over 31,000 tons in 2024, just for the first four months. As a result of this rapid expansion, Egypt has been able to not only compete with Spain but also overtake it almost three times.
Oranges have been the main driver of this expansion. Green oranges have been the major reason why Egypt has been the leading exporter to Brazil since 2022. The country sent last year almost 12,000 tons and the first two months of 2024 were about 24,000 tons. Besides that, mandarins marked significant growth too; the amount of shipments went up from an average of 2,000 tons per year in the same period in 2022 to almost 7,000 tons this year.
On the other hand, the export volume of Egyptian agricultural products to the Rest of the World was also on the rise. 8.6 million tons, 11% more than in 2023, were the total exports in 2024, with citrus fruits claiming 2.39 million tons. Such achievements come from the well-planned and concerted efforts to diversify markets and widen product ranges, thereby positioning Egypt as a reliable and competitive player in the global food trade.
The business factors that played a very important role in the success were good prices for products, improved logistics, and solid trade relations. Egyptian imports of citrus fruits became more attractive for foreign buyers as a result of the depreciation of the Egyptian pound against the dollar, while investments in infrastructure combined with adherence to strict international quality standards have given rise to the confidence of buyers in Egypt’s produce. In addition to that, the transition of the market brought about by climate change,e that resulted in the decline of production in Spain and Morocco, has allowed Egypt to fill the demand gaps and take an upper hand in South America.
The surge in production and exports of citrus fruits from Egypt reflects not only the country’s expanding footprint on the global trade stage but also its proficiency in converting agricultural output into an economic asset. The success story not only elevates Egypt’s role as a major exporter but also strengthens its long-term competitiveness in the global fresh produce market.
