Nov - Mar Citrus Star Ruby grapefruit
Citrus paradisi · Nile Delta
Pack formats
Open-top carton 15 kg net
Season
Nov - Mar
▸ Citrus · 7 programs
Egyptian citrus.
Egypt is the world's largest fresh-orange exporter. Our citrus programs run from November through May, covering Navel, Valencia, Baladi, Sukkari, Adalia lemons, three mandarin varieties, and Star Ruby grapefruit.
No programs in season this month. See the seasonality table below to plan your window.
Nov - Mar Citrus 
Nov - Feb Citrus Adalia lemon
Citrus limon · Nile Delta
Pack formats
Telescopic carton 7.5 kg — 80 cartons/pallet (by count)
Season
Nov - Feb
Dec - Apr Citrus Mandarins
Citrus reticulata · Nile Delta
Pack formats
Carton 8 kg net (cartons or plastic boxes)
Season
Dec - Apr
Dec - Feb Citrus Baladi orange
Citrus sinensis · Nile Delta
Pack formats
Telescopic carton 15 kg net
Season
Dec - Feb
Dec - Mar Citrus Navel orange
Citrus sinensis · Beheira & Nubaria · Nile Delta
Pack formats
Telescopic carton — 70/80 cartons per pallet (by count)
Season
Dec - Mar
Dec - Feb Citrus Sukkari orange
Citrus sinensis · Nile Delta
Pack formats
Telescopic carton 15 kg net
Season
Dec - Feb
Jan - May Citrus Valencia orange
Citrus sinensis · Beheira & Upper Egypt
Pack formats
Telescopic carton
Season
Jan - May
▸ The program
The Egyptian citrus season, explained.
Egypt is the world’s largest exporter of fresh oranges, and the reason is structural: Nile Delta soil and the reclaimed Nubaria lands produce fruit with deep colour and reliable Brix, while a warm, dry winter lets harvest run when Spanish and Greek supply is tightening. Egyptian citrus lands in Europe and the Gulf exactly when buyers need a second origin — and before Southern Hemisphere fruit arrives.
Our citrus calendar opens in November with Adalia lemons and Star Ruby grapefruit. Navel — Egypt’s flagship fresh-eating orange — ships December through March, alongside the specialty Baladi and ultra-sweet Sukkari programs favoured in GCC retail. Mandarins run December through April across three varieties (Fremont early, Minneola mid-season, Murcott late), and Valencia bridges the season’s end from mid-January into May with the world-standard juicing orange.
For a category buyer this means one origin and one counterparty can cover a seven-program citrus shelf from November to May. Weekly allocations against any program are confirmed in writing the moment your purchase order is placed.
▸ Compare programs
Every program, side by side.
| Program | Season | Brix | Calibres / specs | MOQ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grapefruit Star Ruby | November – March | 9–11 | — | 1 × 40' reefer / 24 pallets |
| Lemon Adalia (Eureka) | November – February | — | 6 size grades (Cal. 1: 74–80 mm → Cal. 6: 53–57 mm) | 1 × 40' reefer / 24 pallets |
| Mandarins | December – April (Murcott through April) | 11–13 | — | 1 × 40' reefer / 24 pallets |
| Orange Baladi | December – February | 10–12 | — | 1 × 40' reefer / 24 pallets |
| Orange Navel | December – March | 11–13 | 9 size grades, 62–96 mm (Cal. 1: 89–96 mm → Cal. 9: 62–68 mm) | 1 × 40' reefer / 24 pallets |
| Orange Sukkari | December – February | 12–15 | — | 1 × 40' reefer / 24 pallets |
| Orange Valencia | Mid-January – May | 11–13 | 9 size grades, 62–96 mm (same as Navel) | 1 × 40' reefer / 24 pallets |
▸ Seasonality across citrus
When each citru program is in window.
| This | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Citrus | ||||||||||||
| Star Ruby grapefruit | In season (1) | In season (2) | In season (3) | In season (11) | In season (12) | |||||||
| Adalia lemon | In season (1) | In season (2) | In season (11) | In season (12) | ||||||||
| Mandarins | In season (1) | In season (2) | In season (3) | In season (4) | In season (12) | |||||||
| Baladi orange | In season (1) | In season (2) | In season (12) | |||||||||
| Navel orange | In season (1) | In season (2) | In season (3) | In season (12) | ||||||||
| Sukkari orange | In season (1) | In season (2) | In season (12) | |||||||||
| Valencia orange | In season (1) | In season (2) | In season (3) | In season (4) | In season (5) | |||||||
In season this month In season
▸ Packing & cold chain
Packed to spec, shipped cold.
Oranges grade into nine calibres from 62 to 96 mm (Cal. 1: 89–96 mm down to Cal. 9: 62–68 mm); Adalia lemons into six grades from 53 to 80 mm. Pack formats span telescopic cartons, 7.5 kg and 15 kg open trays, 8 kg mandarin cartons and 600 kg bins for processing programs — palletised by count to your spec.
Fruit is pre-cooled within hours of harvest and ships at variety-correct temperatures: 4–6 °C for oranges, 8–10 °C for lemons, 10–13 °C for grapefruit, with temperature reports available for every shipment.
▸ Destination notes
Programmed by market.
European Union
EU MRL compliance is the default, not an upgrade. Phytosanitary certificate and Certificate of Origin with every load; EUR.1 preferential documents on request. Reefer into Rotterdam, Hamburg, Antwerp, Genoa and Marseille in 8–14 days.
United Kingdom
Retail-spec calibre runs packed under BRCGS-aligned facilities, shipped to Felixstowe, Tilbury and Southampton in 10–13 days. Navel and easy-peeler programs sized for UK multiple-retail shelves.
GCC
The Gulf takes our specialty programs — Sukkari and Baladi oranges — alongside mainstream Navel and mandarins. Jebel Ali and Dammam in 4–7 days by reefer, or daily overland refrigerated trucks. Halal certificates on request.
▸ Frequently asked
Buyer questions, answered.
When is Egyptian citrus in season for export?
The Egyptian citrus window runs November through May. Adalia lemons and Star Ruby grapefruit open in November; Navel oranges ship December–March; Baladi and Sukkari run December–February; mandarins December–April; and Valencia closes the season from mid-January through May.
Navel or Valencia — which orange should my program use?
Navel is the fresh-eating standard: seedless, easy-peel, Brix 11–13, available December through March. Valencia is the juicing and late-season fresh orange, running mid-January through May. Most retail programs run Navel first and switch to Valencia as the Navel window closes — we plan that handover into the allocation.
What calibre grades do Egyptian oranges ship in?
Nine size grades from 62 to 96 mm: Cal. 1 (89–96 mm) down to Cal. 9 (62–68 mm), packed by count in telescopic cartons or open trays. Lemons grade into six calibres from 53 to 80 mm.
What documentation comes with an EU citrus shipment?
Every load carries a phytosanitary certificate and Certificate of Origin, with EUR.1 preferential certificates on request. Sourcing is from GlobalG.A.P. v6 certified growers and packing is EU MRL compliant by default.
What are typical transit times for Egyptian citrus?
Reefer from Alexandria or Damietta reaches Rotterdam in roughly 9–12 days, Hamburg in about 10, and Felixstowe in about 11. GCC ports such as Jebel Ali and Dammam are 4–7 days, with daily overland refrigerated trucking as an alternative.
Build a citrus program with us.
Tell us volumes, windows and destination market. We will come back with available calibers, packs and sailings within 24 hours.
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