The start whistle for the beginning of the table grapes campaign in Egypt is accompanied by the drumbeat of strong competition between producers. Mohamed Maatouk, CEO of the producer/exporter Egyptian-Emirati, gives an overview of the season's opening.
Maatouk says: "Grapes are one of the most cultivated fruits in Egypt after citrus. The geographical spread of Egyptian production provides fresh and sweet grapes from May to July. Our grapes have proven their worth in the international market thanks to their high quality and good price, but the competition will be tough".
Despite the recent heatwaves in Egypt, the producer reassures, "We have had good cold weather overall, which has been a blessing for homogeneous budding and high fertility. This has translated into a top-notch crop this year."
This year has seen the entry of more investors into the industry, which has increased acreage and volumes, adds Maatouk. " Luckily, volumes and production are very good compared to the previous season. There is always more competition each year because of the new grape plantings that come into production each year."
We have many varieties of grapes, some of which are reserved from now until the end of the season. The most planted are Early Sweet, Superior, Thompson, Flame seedless, Crimson, and Red globe.
The increase in the number of producers and volumes will result in intense competition, says Maatouk, "competition between Egyptian producers will be tough. The determinant of success in the market will be the ability to produce high-quality grapes. The competition will also be tough with other origins, but the Egyptian grape is set to succeed thanks to its good varieties and quality. Egypt's geographical location at the crossroads of continents also gives it better price advantages."
On the demand side, Maatouk says, "The main markets we compete in are Spain and Italy, but demand from Asian countries is expected to be massive. There is also solid demand in the European market for many reasons, including the Russian-Ukrainian crisis that has caused rampant inflation in Europe and the high demand for energy savings in many ways. European buyers will prefer fresh to shelf, which is in the advantage of Egyptian production."
The competition will also be reflected in terms of price, says Maatouk, "The price index of Egyptian grapes is very competitive compared to other origins like South Africa and Chile, and this is our objective argument to convince European buyers."
