According to EastFruit, Egypt has set a new record for mango exports to Saudi Arabia in 2022, reclaiming its status as the largest supplier in this market that it had lost the previous year. Furthermore, mango exports in this direction have also remained at record levels in the first half of this year.
In 2022, Saudi Arabia imported 34,000 tonnes of mangoes from Egypt, exceeding the previous year’s figure by 60%. It is worth noting that mango production in Egypt sharply declined in 2021 due to adverse weather conditions (temperature fluctuations led to early fruit drop), as reported by TheNationalNews.com with reference to Mohamed Fahim, a consultant on climate change to Egypt’s agriculture minister. As a result, mango exports from Egypt to Saudi Arabia fell to 21,000 tonnes in 2021, compared to 33,800 tonnes in 2020.
The mango export season from Egypt to Saudi Arabia begins with shipments of the earliest varieties in June. The peak of exports usually occurs from July to November, and by winter, trade volumes decrease to their minimum. As for this year, according to the available data, 250 tonnes of mangoes were sent from Egypt to Saudi Arabia in June. This is a record figure for this month; however, it does not necessarily mean that a record should be expected for the entire year of 2023.
According to the same article from TheNationalNews.com, mango production in Egypt is highly dependent on weather conditions and significantly varies from year to year. This year, many farmers frequently reported sunburn on mango fruits, which could negatively impact the overall export of this product from the country. Mangoes with sunburns are mainly sold in the local market or used for processing. According to Hassan El-Refaey, a mango producer in one of the regions of Egypt, if there is at least one sunburned fruit in a crate with healthy mangoes, the discoloration spreads and ruins the rest of the batch.
For more information: east-fruit.com