Prices for fresh Egyptian strawberries stabilize after difficult start to season
Export prices recover after early oversupply, but rising costs and quality concerns shape the rest of the campaign.
EGYPT – Egypt’s fresh strawberry export season has settled into a steadier phase after a challenging opening marked by oversupply, price drops, and quality concerns, according to industry sources.
Ahmed Wagih, CEO of Agri Green, said a sharp rise in strawberry acreage this season created pressure across the market. New growers entered production at scale, leading to high volumes at the start of the export window. As a result, prices fell by almost 30 percent compared to last season, especially in Gulf markets.
“The massive influx of new growers and the increase in acreage resulted in an abundant supply at the start of the season, causing export prices to fall by nearly 30% compared to the previous season, especially in the Gulf markets,” Wagih said. “Prices then stabilized and returned to the same level as last season, but this is an underperformance because production costs have increased.”
Rising costs squeeze growers
Wagih linked the cost pressure directly to the acreage expansion. Demand for land, workers, and farm inputs rose at the same time, pushing prices up across the board. He said growers now face tighter margins even as export prices recover.
“The cost of renting land, labor, and agricultural inputs has increased due to high demand,” he said. “I don’t think this is sustainable, and the acreage of strawberries in Egypt needs to decrease next season in order to restore balance in the industry.”
Producers also rushed fruit to market earlier than usual, with exports starting as early as November. This early push created quality problems, particularly among newer growers who lacked experience with export standards.
Quality and compliance under scrutiny
The season has seen a rise in quality complaints and issues linked to compliance with maximum residue limit requirements. Wagih said some new producers still need time to adjust to market rules.
“Several new producers need time and experience to adapt to MRL lists and targets,” he said. “In the meantime, buyers need to be selective in their sourcing.”
Despite these issues, prices for fresh strawberries have stayed stable since the start of 2026. Wagih described this as a positive signal for the remainder of the season. Egypt currently exports Sensation, Fortuna, Festival, and Brilliance varieties to active markets including the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Gulf countries.
“The fresh strawberry export campaign remains strong, but we are seeing prices for frozen strawberries continue to decrease,” he said.
New processing option enters the scene
The season has also introduced a new development with the entry of strawberry processors focused on drying. Wagih said these players could support demand, although their impact remains unclear.
“We are counting on them to support demand,” he said. “However, their effect remains to be seen. They have not yet started operations, and many growers are not even aware that this processing method is now available in Egypt. This is a trial year, and we will see how things stand in a few weeks.”
As the season progresses, growers and exporters will watch closely to see whether stable prices, tighter quality control, and new processing options can help the sector regain balance.
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