26/10/2020 | Egypt

In Egypt, the record volume of last year which had enabled the country to reach the position of world No.1 in orange exports may not be reached. But the volume already shipped is significant and comes largely from land reclaimed from the desert.

 

 

 

In Egypt a report published by the Central Administration of Agricultural Quarantine indicates that the country's orange exports during this season reached 1,398,025 tons until October 14.

 

 

 

Last season Egypt exported 1.8 million tonnes of oranges. Becoming the world's leading exporter of oranges by volume ahead of Spain and South Africa, according to ITC (International Trade Center) the joint agency of the WTO (World Trade Organization) and the UN. Export earnings amounted to approximately $660 million.

 

 

 

To achieve this position of world leader, the opening of new markets for exports and the weakness of the national currency have played an important role. But above all the development of new lands to increase production.

 

 

 

The majority of the volume of oranges exported comes from large farms established over the past 3 decades on reclaimed desert land. The large investments are all made in desert areas which allow the exploitation of vast areas and the use of the latest technologies for cultivation and irrigation. The farms are large and have their own packing sites. Government subsidies to exporters also contributed to this expansion.

 

 

 

The disruptions recorded at the start of the year due to the global health crisis could affect the total volume exported, which may be lower than in 2019. But the boom in demand for citrus fruits could compensate.