“This season will go down as a valuable lesson for the Egyptian strawberry industry”

The 2025/2026 Egyptian strawberry season was preceded by a sharp increase in acreage and an early harvest, coupled with difficulties in sourcing seedlings, resulting in a massive increase in production, falling prices, and a sharp rise in shipment interceptions due to high MRLs. According to Mohammed Ezzat, Egyptian producer and exporter and CEO of Green Nile, this season is nothing less than a “turning point for the industry.”

According to Ezzat, much of the additional acreage planted this season went in without any real market research, let alone sales contracts. Worse still, many newcomers to strawberry growing and exporting do not fully understand the international market requirements for quality or food safety. “The inevitable result is that the European Union has decided to increase sampling and testing of Egyptian strawberries by 20% in 20226, and a similar measure has been taken by the United Arab Emirates, and rightly so,” the grower adds.

“We don’t know where the market is headed this season, and we are trying to control the situation as much as we can. At Green Nile, as strawberry specialists with a long track record in the sector, we are offering technical assistance to growers in our region, even free of charge, in order to preserve the image of Egyptian strawberries,” Ezzat continues.

After a chaotic start to the season, with prices sometimes falling below production costs according to several growers, the sector is stabilizing somewhat. Ezzat says, “The situation varies from market to market, but overall, we are back to price levels similar to last season. We are saved by the history of the sector in Egypt, which has acquired traditional markets through long and hard work and exceptional fruit.”

Demand remains “very active” in several markets, according to the grower. He explains, “I see Poland standing out this year as the most active market for Egyptian strawberries, thanks to the drying industry in the country. Polish processors have also established themselves in Egypt and set up drying plants this season. Germany and the Netherlands are also very active markets.”

“There are also other important markets this season, such as Russia and Ukraine, due to less stringent MRL requirements. The downside is that it is a crowded market and there is strong competition between Egyptian exporters. We see that a real burn-off pricing strategy is needed to be present in Russia, especially this season, which we do not endorse and which makes it a secondary market for us at Green Nile,” Ezzat continues.

The grower hopes that the industry will return to calmer waters next season. “I expect a large number of growers and exporters, especially newcomers, to pull out and exit the sector next season. There will certainly be a drop in acreage. This season will go down as a valuable lesson for the Egyptian strawberry industry and fresh produce in general.”

Mohammed Ezzat
Green Nile Egypt
Tel: +201000285606
Email: info@greennile-eg.com
www.greennile-eg.com Publication date: Tue 20 Jan 2026

© FreshPlaza.com / Youness Bensaid

Peru added 66 blueberry exporters in 2025 while 47 exporters exited

Although Peru’s blueberry sector continues to show expansion in export volumes, the underlying structure of the industry is changing. In 2025, the export landscape experienced marked turnover, with both new entrants and exits reshaping the market. “2025 witnessed a major restructuring of the export sector,” says Martín Garay, market analyst at Garay Company.

During the year, 66 new companies entered the Peruvian blueberry export market, while 47 exporters active in 2024 exited the sector. This resulted in a net increase in participating companies, but also a more competitive environment with higher financial, technical, and commercial requirements.

“The entry of new players is surprising not only because of the number, but also because of the scale of their arrival,” Garay explains. New exporters include Agrícola Huarmey SAC, with a turnover of US$15.52 million, Ta Export SAC with US$12.61 million, and Reiter Peruvian Berry SA with US$6.89 million. “This confirms that the sector continues to attract significant capital and is raising the bar for entry,” he adds.

At the same time, a number of exporters withdrew from the market. “Some failed to adapt to price volatility or sought opportunities in other sectors,” Garay says. Among those no longer active are Frusan Agro, which recorded more than US$5 million in sales the previous year, Agrícola Isabel with close to US$5 million, and Consorcio JRM SAC, which moved US$965,000.

According to Garay, current market conditions are challenging for less resilient business models. Average prices declined to US$5.31 per kilogram, while supply increased, and buyer requirements for quality, certifications, and logistics became more demanding. These factors have limited the participation of exporters without sufficient financial backing or operational efficiency.

Despite the exits, the total number of exporters is 19 higher than last year. However, this figure does not fully reflect the changes taking place. Rather than uniform growth, the sector is undergoing a process of replacement, with new and more specialised exporters taking the place of companies that were unable to maintain their position.

“The lesson is clear: in agricultural exports, generating millions in revenue one year doesn’t guarantee survival the next,” Garay says. Under tighter margins and increased competition, performance depends on adaptability, risk management, and the structure of production and commercial operations.

As a result, the Peruvian blueberry industry is entering a phase where expansion is increasingly linked to strategy and execution rather than the number of active exporters. New large-scale players continue to enter, others exit, and market conditions continue to determine which companies remain active over time.

Source: Agraria / Blueberries Consulting

December sees more Greek strawberries thanks to increased early plantings and favorable weather

The harvest of the first Greek strawberries in the Ilia region is currently proceeding exceptionally well, while exports are not being hindered by the tractor blockades that have spread across Greece or at the customs on the country’s northern borders, as shipments are, as always, departing from other points.

“We have no issues with distribution. Not yet, at least. Strawberry shipments to Germany and the rest of Europe do not pass through the roads currently blocked by tractors, nor through the customs at the northern borders. They leave, as always, by ship from the port of Patras and reach various markets via Italy,” notes Dimitris Taktikos, owner of Taktikos SA.

Regarding production, he adds: “We are in a good phase; the plants are in really excellent condition because the ‘incubator’, as we call the conditions of the location and the weather at the time of planting, was ideal. Last year, it was very hot, which caused the plants to burn. This year, the rainfall during that period was extremely favorable.”

“These conditions have caused the early ripening of all varieties. The appearance and growth of the plants we see now would have only been visible in February last year. This development, combined with the significant increase in potted plantings, perhaps 100% more than last year, has already brought an early start to our harvest. However, we cannot yet estimate the exact difference in current productivity compared to last year. We are talking about Fortuna, Arwen, and other varieties. Producers have paid great attention to their early varieties,” Taktikos adds.

Early ripening is also expected for Victory, which continues to be the predominant variety in Greek strawberry greenhouses: “As for Victory, it will start giving us very small quantities around Christmas, slightly before or after. Going forward, if there are no complications from very cold weather in January and February, we can expect good quantities of this variety from February 15–20, whereas last year, we received them from March 15–20.”

Finally, the rosy picture is somewhat clouded by competition from Egypt. “We see Egypt ahead, which increases its strawberry cultivation every year, but we are talking about outdoor crops, and their products reach the markets in poor quality. Nevertheless, they put pressure on us and our prices. The prices we are receiving in the first ten days of December are 15–20% lower compared to the same period last year,” notes the Greek exporter.

For more information:
Dimitris Taktikos
Taktikos SA
Tel: +30 262 307 3124
Email: info@taktikos.com.gr
https://taktikos.com.gr/

Patras port clear of blockades. Strawberries depart smoothly for European markets

December sees more Greek strawberries thanks to increased early plantings and favorable weather

The harvest of the first Greek strawberries in the Ilia region is currently proceeding exceptionally well, while exports are not being hindered by the tractor blockades that have spread across Greece or at the customs on the country’s northern borders, as shipments are, as always, departing from other points.

“We have no issues with distribution. Not yet, at least. Strawberry shipments to Germany and the rest of Europe do not pass through the roads currently blocked by tractors, nor through the customs at the northern borders. They leave, as always, by ship from the port of Patras and reach various markets via Italy,” notes Dimitris Taktikos, owner of Taktikos SA.

Regarding production, he adds: “We are in a good phase; the plants are in really excellent condition because the ‘incubator’, as we call the conditions of the location and the weather at the time of planting, was ideal. Last year, it was very hot, which caused the plants to burn. This year, the rainfall during that period was extremely favorable.”

“These conditions have caused the early ripening of all varieties. The appearance and growth of the plants we see now would have only been visible in February last year. This development, combined with the significant increase in potted plantings, perhaps 100% more than last year, has already brought an early start to our harvest. However, we cannot yet estimate the exact difference in current productivity compared to last year. We are talking about Fortuna, Arwen, and other varieties. Producers have paid great attention to their early varieties,” Taktikos adds.

Early ripening is also expected for Victory, which continues to be the predominant variety in Greek strawberry greenhouses: “As for Victory, it will start giving us very small quantities around Christmas, slightly before or after. Going forward, if there are no complications from very cold weather in January and February, we can expect good quantities of this variety from February 15–20, whereas last year, we received them from March 15–20.”

Finally, the rosy picture is somewhat clouded by competition from Egypt. “We see Egypt ahead, which increases its strawberry cultivation every year, but we are talking about outdoor crops, and their products reach the markets in poor quality. Nevertheless, they put pressure on us and our prices. The prices we are receiving in the first ten days of December are 15–20% lower compared to the same period last year,” notes the Greek exporter.

For more information:
Dimitris Taktikos
Taktikos SA
Tel: +30 262 307 3124
Email: info@taktikos.com.gr
https://taktikos.com.gr/