Final egyptian Citrus Review

Citrus Production Areas in Egypt

Citrus is grown along the banks of the River Nile in four areas: Delta, New lands (Sharkia, Ismailia and Behara), Upper Egypt and Middle Egypt (Table 1).

Table 1 Distribution of Citrus Orchards in Egypt

Delta	New lands (Sharkia, Ismailia, and Behara)	Middle Egypt	Upper Egypt
Washington Navel	Washington Navel	Baladi (with seeds)	Baladi (seedless/with seeds), Youssuf
Limes, Baladi(seeds)	Baladi (with seeds)	Youssuf, Limes	Limes, Grapefruit
Valencia, Youssuf	Youssuf mandarin	Grapefruit	Lemon
Sweet Orange	Grape fruit	Valencia
Lemon	Valencia, Lemon	Lemon

Export production areas are in 12 governorates, namely Ismaillia, Sharkia, Gharbia, El-Behara, El-Monufia, El-Kalubia, El-Nubaria, Gaiza, El-Faium, Ben Suef, El-Minya and Asyot (Figure 1).

Figure 1 Map of Egypt Showing the Twelve Citrus Growing Governorates

Orange production accounts for about 70% of total citrus production in Egypt. Approximately 80% of Egypt’s total orange production is produced by large farms (6.6–66 ha) and 20% by small farms (0.6–6.6 ha). Three principal varieties of oranges are produced in Egypt: Navel, Valencia and Baladi. There are two kinds of Navel oranges, an early maturing variety and a late maturing variety. The early Navel oranges are mostly consumed domestically, whereas the late Navels are mainly exported. Valencia is a late maturing variety with high quality juice. The Baladi is principally used for juice.

All export citrus orchards are subject to strict supervision by the Central Administration of Plant Quarantine, the Plant Protection Research Institute, the Plant Pathology Research Institute and the Horticulture Research Institute to ensure that necessary management requirements have been implemented and maintained.

2. Harvesting Periods for Egyptian Citrus

Estimated harvest periods for the various citrus types are shown in Table 2. The orange harvest lasts four to five months, beginning in October. Sweet lime and lemon are grown nationwide and are available all year.

Table 2 Citrus Harvesting Periods

Region	Harvesting times for each variety
	Baladi, Sweet orange	Valencia	Navel	Grapefruit
Delta	Jan – Feb	Mar	Nov – Dec	Nov – Dec
New lands	Nov – Dec	Feb	Nov – Dec	Feb – Mar
Middle Egypt	Dec – Jan	Feb – Mar	Dec	Feb – Mar
Upper Egypt	Late Oct – Nov	Feb	--	Nov – Feb

3. Exports of Citrus from Egypt

Egypt currently exports citrus fruit to the European Union and the Gulf States. A small export quota of 8,000 MT per season limits Egyptian orange exports to the European Union under the free trade agreement. Egypt is negotiating to increase its orange export quota to 300,000 MT per season under the Egyptian-European Union partnership agreement. Total Egyptian orange exports in 1999–2000 was estimated at 208,000 MT compared to 215,000 MT in 1998–99.

Egypt has about 24 private-sector orange exporters. About 20 are small to medium in size and about four are large. However, three major companies control approximately 78% of the export market. There is one public sector company in the Egyptian orange sector and it controls about 20% of the export market.

Tangerine (mandarin) exports are handled by private sector companies. The total tangerine exports in 1999–2000 were estimated at 10,000 MT of which 3,758 MT were exported to Saudi Arabia, the major export market for Egyptian tangerines.

Total Egyptian export of citrus fruit, other than oranges and tangerines in 1999–2000 increased to 17,000 MT from 16,000 MT in 1998–99.

3. Current Australian Quarantine Protocols for Citrus Imports

All countries are required to comply with the “General requirements for all fruit and vegetables” detailed below.

1. 
   A permit approved by the States is required.
   
2. 
   A phytosanitary certificate must accompany each consignment.
   
3. 
   A Quarantine Entry form should be lodged for produce from sea and airfreight by an importer or their agent for clearance of the consignment by AQIS.
   
4. 
   Shipments must be free of soil and other debris and packed in clean new packages.
   
5. 
   All consignments (other than those pre-cleared in the country of origin under an arrangement approved by AQIS) are subject to inspection on arrival and any treatment necessary before release.
   
6. 
   Inspection must occur at the first port of call. No land bridging of consignments will be permitted unless the goods have cleared quarantine.
   
7. 
   All consignments treated prior to export must have a commercial treatment certificate or a valid endorsement on the phytosanitary certificate or as otherwise stated in the specific conditions.
   
8. 
   Open (door ajar) dry boxes that are used to ship produce that requires airing during transport are acceptable provided the containers are secured by replacing or closing the door prior to movement from the wharf to the site of inspection. Alternative security can be provided by security meshing, screening or covering with a heavy plastic sheet or tarping over the open containers.
   
9. 
   Timber packing, pallets or dunnage in Full Container Load (FCL) containers will be subjected to inspection and treatment on arrival, unless certified as having been treated by an approved method.
   

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