Egyptian Onions for Export
Egypt is one of the world’s leading onion exporters, and for good reason: the dry climate, fertile Delta and Upper Egypt soils, and generations of growing expertise produce hard, well-cured bulbs with strong skins, high dry-matter content and pungency that holds up in storage and transit. Egyptian golden and red onions are a staple in wholesale markets across the Gulf, Europe, Asia and Africa, prized for both quality and highly competitive pricing.
PEIVANA supplies onions the flexible way. Because onions travel in dry containers and pair naturally with other vegetables, we regularly build mixed loads — onions with potatoes, garlic or sweet potatoes in one container — and we take mid-size orders that fall below the minimums of Egypt’s largest shippers. Ask in the morning; you will have an offer before the day ends.
Varieties & Grades
We export two main types. Golden (yellow) onions — firm globes with copper-brown skins, medium to strong pungency and excellent storability, the workhorse of foodservice and wholesale. Red onions — deep purple-red skins with white-red rings, favoured in Gulf, Asian and East African cuisines. Both are supplied topped, well-cured, with dry necks and intact outer skins, graded to export Class 1; Class 2 is available for price-driven wholesale channels.
Sizes, Packing & Palletization
The standard export pack is the 25 kg mesh bag, with smaller bags for retail programs.
| Pack | Bulb Size | Load Style | Net per 40ft Container |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 kg mesh bag | 40–60 mm / 60–80 mm / 80 mm+ | Palletized or floor-loaded | 26–28 tonnes |
| 10 kg mesh bag | 50–70 mm | Palletized | ~24 tonnes |
| 5 kg / 1 kg retail nets | Per program | Palletized in cartons | ~22 tonnes |
Floor loading maximizes tonnage for wholesale buyers; palletized loads speed up discharge and suit supermarket distribution.
Season & Availability
Fresh Egyptian onions are available from March through October. The main Delta and Upper Egypt harvest lands in March–May, and properly cured stocks from ventilated stores extend reliable shipments through the summer and into autumn — covering the months when European stores run down and Southern Hemisphere supply is costly.
Logistics & Shipping
Well-cured onions ship in ventilated dry containers, which keeps freight costs well below reefer rates; refrigerated shipment at 0–5 °C can be arranged for hot-season arrivals or long Asian lanes. We load at Alexandria, Damietta, Sokhna and Port Said: 4–8 days to the Gulf, 8–14 days to Europe and the Mediterranean, 14–25 days to Southeast Asia, and regular services to East and West Africa.
Quality & Documentation
Shipments travel with a phytosanitary certificate and certificate of origin plus any destination-specific certificates. Our partner farms are GLOBALG.A.P.-certified and bags are packed in HACCP and ISO-certified facilities, with moisture, skin-finish and sprouting checks before every loading and photo reports shared with the buyer.
Why Buy From PEIVANA
PEIVANA is the flexible Egyptian exporter: combine golden and red onions in one container, or mix onions with potatoes, garlic or sweet potatoes in a single load; order mid-size volumes without hitting big-exporter minimums; and get same-day quotes with clear packing and sizing options.
Need a season-long onion program or a single trial container? Request a quote and we will respond the same day.
