Importing produce from Egypt: a checklist

Importing produce from Egypt follows the same steps as any origin: agree the specification, check a sample, confirm the documents your country needs, and protect the cold chain. This checklist sets out each step so nothing is missed between enquiry and arrival.

1. Fix the specification

• Product and variety: for example Valencia orange or Red Globe grapes.
• Size grade and quality class your market expects.
• Packing: carton, crate, bag or bin, net weight, and carton print and labels.
• Window: the month you want to receive goods. Check the Egyptian produce calendar.
• For IQF: the cut (cubes, slices, strips, whole) and the pack size.

2. Ask for a quote and a sample

Send product, quantity, packing and destination. A quote should state availability for your window and the price for that packing. Ask for a sample before you commit to a full shipment. See how to request a quote.

3. Agree the trade terms

Settle the delivery term (for example FOB, CFR or CIF), the payment terms and the shipping schedule in writing. These are agreed per order, not published.

4. Confirm the documents your country requires

Import rules are set by the destination country, so confirm the list with your customs broker before the first shipment. A produce shipment commonly travels with:

• commercial invoice and packing list,
• bill of lading (sea) or air waybill (air),
• phytosanitary certificate for fresh produce, issued by Egypt’s plant quarantine authority,
• certificate of origin, which can matter for tariff preferences in some markets,
• any extra certificates or lab tests your market or customer asks for.

Tell us your destination when you ask for a quote, and confirm the document list with us before shipping.

5. Protect the cold chain

Fresh produce needs the right temperature for the crop in a reefer container. IQF frozen products are held at −18 °C and must stay frozen end to end: a pack that thaws and refreezes is not the same product. Agree the container temperature setting with us before loading.

6. Inspect on arrival

Check the goods against the agreed specification and record any issue with photos and dates at once.

Know what each supplier certifies

Ask every supplier which certificate covers which activity. Ours are set out plainly on our quality page and in our ISO certificates explained. Start with a quote request.