Red onions have been a staple export for Egypt in recent years. Due to the quality of its produce this year, Egypt is unable to produce good enough red onions to be sold abroad. Yassin, from Stars of Export, Egypt, explains, “The season for our onions is April to July. Unfortunately, the quality this year is really not good; therefore we can only really sell our produce to the local market. It’s been a consistent story for the various red onion growing regions over the whole country.”
Since Egypt has not been exporting, it has left a hole in the market, which will most likely be filled by its main rival in the industry, India. “India grows onions all year long. They have huge areas dedicated to them. Most importantly India’s price is very cheap. Ironically India used to import red onions from Egypt when their country experienced shortages in the past.”
“The quality of our onions is preferred by the European market. Our red onions are also bigger (100mm per piece) and have a more appealing color compared to India. Another competitive advantage of ours is the fact that we know our market quite well. In Europe our main markets are the UK, Germany and the Netherlands.”
Furthermore, Yassin added that, while Egypt might be producing the best red onions, he feels that they are also expected to produce high quality spring onions every season. “We know the best time of the year to enter each European country and what they want in their spring onions: fresh, good in length, heavy and well packed. To help us meet these requirements, we've recently just upgraded our packaging house to supply the European markets. There is no doubt in my mind that we will be able to bounce back soon,” Abel concluded.
