Egy Berries in the press HortiDaily · 4 February 2026

Egypt's Strawberry Area Grows, but Yields per Hectare Fall

In an interview with the Spanish trade magazine HortiDaily, Abdallah Tharwat, Partner at Egy Berries, looked at the 2026 strawberry season in Egypt: more hectares in the ground, less certainty per hectare, and a European market that now values compliance above price.

Egypt's place in the world strawberry market

Egypt remains one of the largest strawberry producers in the world, ranking third with around 688,000 tonnes a year, and it is the world's leading exporter of frozen strawberries, shipping roughly 300,000 tonnes annually. On top of frozen product, Egypt exports 42,000 to 47,000 tonnes of fresh strawberries in a season that runs from December to June.

Cultivation is concentrated in the governorates of Qalyubia, Beheira, Ismailia and Sharqia, on around 9,000 hectares. Egyptian processors freeze varieties such as Fortuna, Festival and Sensation.

More area, less yield per hectare

The planted area has grown compared with previous seasons, but output per hectare has fallen because of unstable weather and sharp temperature swings. As Abdallah explained, climate variability is becoming one of the main factors behind inconsistent yields and harder planning.

“Climate variability is becoming one of the main factors affecting yield consistency.”

Abdallah Tharwat, Egy Berries

The growing area shows confidence in the crop. The productivity challenge puts more weight on professional farm management and adaptive growing practices.

Stricter EU border controls since January 2026

Since January 2026, Egyptian strawberries entering the EU face tighter controls: 20% of shipments now go through mandatory physical inspection. The measure followed a rise in RASFF notifications for pesticide residues, notably unauthorised substances such as oxamyl. With "technical zero" tolerance limits, the focus has moved from price competition to compliance, traceability and controlled sourcing.

With one in five shipments physically inspected, the volume of strawberries that meets EU requirements has fallen sharply, and compliant frozen volumes were close to sold out early in the season.

“Buyers now prioritise reliability and compliance over the lowest price.”

Abdallah Tharwat, Egy Berries

Where Egy Berries is focusing in 2026

Egy Berries' main export destinations include Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, China, Brazil, Turkey, Czechia and Hungary. In 2026 the company is strengthening its position in Germany, Poland, China, Turkey and Brazil, and preparing to enter South Korea, Vietnam and India.

What this means for buyers

• Secure compliant volume early. Residue-compliant frozen strawberries are the scarce product, not strawberries in general.
• Ask for traceability to the farm. Lot-level traceability and residue testing are what protect a shipment at the EU border.
• Plan around the weather. Yield swings make early contracts and a reliable second origin more valuable.

Source: read the original interview on HortiDaily (4 February 2026).

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