How to import agricultural products from Egypt

EGEX exports four core product lines from Egypt: Agricultural commodities — bulk wheat, maize, rice, lentils, chickpeas, sesame and other pulses and oilseeds; Fresh produce — Egyptian citrus (Navel, Valencia, mandarins, lemons), onions, garlic, potatoes, grapes and pomegranate; Frozen IQF products — green peas, sweet corn, okra, molokhia, strawberries and mixed vegetables; and Export-grade charcoal — hardwood lump, shisha hookah charcoal, coconut shell charcoal and briquettes.

Use the quote form and tell us: product name and grade, target volume (in MT or number of containers), destination port, preferred Incoterm and any packaging or labelling requirements. Our trade team will respond with a costed, deliverable offer within one business day.

We work from a minimum of one 20-foot FCL container per commodity type (typically 18–26 MT depending on product). Multi-commodity LCL consolidations and full vessel lots are both accommodated — mention your target volume in the quote request and we will advise the most cost-efficient shipping option.

We operate active corridors across six world regions: the Middle East (Gulf states and Levant), North Africa (Maghreb), East Africa (via Red Sea and Indian Ocean ports), Central Africa, Europe (including EU markets), and the CIS and Eastern Europe. New destinations can be opened on request.

We quote on FOB (Free on Board) from Egyptian ports — Alexandria, Port Said and Damietta — as well as CFR (Cost & Freight) and CIF (Cost, Insurance & Freight) to your destination port. Other Incoterms can be discussed on request.

Prices for bulk agricultural commodities (wheat, grains, oilseeds) are typically quoted at-market and may be subject to confirmation at the time of contract. Fresh produce pricing depends on season and current crop. Charcoal pricing is generally more stable. All quotes are valid for 5 business days unless otherwise stated.

We transact primarily in USD. Payments in EUR or other currencies can be accommodated — advise your preferred currency in the quote request.

Transit times depend on destination: Middle East (Gulf) 3–6 days; North Africa 2–5 days; East Africa 8–14 days; Europe 12–20 days; CIS / Eastern Europe 14–25 days. Total lead time from order confirmation to vessel departure is typically 7–14 days for bulk commodities and 5–10 days for fresh produce.

Yes. Fresh produce is pre-cooled at the Egyptian pack-house immediately after harvest grading, loaded into reefer containers at the correct set-point temperature, and maintained on an unbroken cold chain to the destination port. Temperature logs are available on request.

We handle full Egyptian export clearance. Destination import clearance is the buyer's responsibility unless we have agreed a CIP or DDP Incoterm — in which case we can coordinate with a local forwarding agent on your behalf.

Standard documentation includes: Commercial Invoice, Packing List, Bill of Lading (or Airway Bill), Certificate of Origin (Egyptian Ministry of Trade), Phytosanitary Certificate (Ministry of Agriculture), Fumigation Certificate where required, SGS or third-party quality inspection report, and COA (Certificate of Analysis) for frozen and processed goods.

Yes — Halal certification, EUR.1 movement certificates, organic certificates and other destination-specific documents are available on request. Please mention the certificates required when submitting your quote inquiry.

Products destined for European markets are handled under EU MRL (Maximum Residue Limit) compliance protocols, correct labelling and border inspection requirements. We work with EU-registered Egyptian pack-houses and third-party inspectors to ensure shipments clear European entry points without delays.

Every EGEX shipment is subject to pre-loading inspection: visual grading and sorting, moisture and impurity analysis (commodities), Brix and size grading (fresh produce), temperature check and cold-chain verification (chilled and frozen), and ash-content and fixed-carbon testing (charcoal). Full inspection documentation is included with every Bill of Lading package.

Absolutely. We welcome third-party inspection by SGS, Bureau Veritas, Intertek or your preferred agency at any point during production, pre-loading or at the port. Please notify us at the time of order so we can coordinate access.

Yes. If you have a specific Egyptian agricultural commodity or food product requirement not listed, contact us with specifications and target volume. We can often source to order within our established supply network.