Egypt is the world’s largest date producer, yet most of that crop never leaves the country — which means the export trade is a specialist’s market where variety knowledge is the whole game. Buyers sourcing Egyptian dates wholesale are not choosing between “dates”; they are choosing between semi-dry Siwi for retail boxes, Amhat for value programs, and dry Sakkoti from Aswan for markets that want a chewy, long-keeping date. Each has its own texture, sugar profile, price tier and customer.
This guide gives importers the variety table, moisture classes, packing formats and the calendar — harvest in autumn, sales peak before Ramadan — that a dates program is built on. PEIVANA supplies Egyptian dates from Alexandria, Damietta and Sokhna, in full loads or alongside legumes and groceries in a mixed produce container.
Varieties: The Table That Decides Your Order
| Variety | Type | Taste & texture | Best use | Buyer notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Siwi (Saidy) | Semi-dry | Caramel-sweet, tender-chewy, amber-brown | Retail boxes, Ramadan gifting, general consumption | The flagship export date from Siwa and the oases; the closest Egyptian answer to a premium everyday date |
| Amhat (Amhat/Amhaat) | Semi-dry | Mildly sweet, larger elongated fruit | Value retail, bulk repacking | Good size for the price; the volume workhorse for price-driven markets |
| Sakkoti | Dry | Firm, chewy, moderate sweetness | African and Asian dry-date markets, long ambient storage | From Aswan/Nubia; ships and stores without cold chain — lowest logistics cost |
| Malkabi / Bartamoda | Dry | Firm, dark, keeps for months | Dry-date wholesale | Aswan alternatives to Sakkoti |
| Zaghloul / Samany | Fresh (rutab/khalal) | Crunchy-sweet red/yellow fresh dates | Local + niche export in season | Short autumn window, cold chain required — a specialty add-on, not a program base |
| Medjool (Egyptian-grown) | Soft | Large, luxurious, moist | Premium retail | Growing Egyptian plantings; priced well below Jordanian/Israeli Medjool |
Grades
Within each variety, specify: size/count per kg, uniformity of colour, moisture class, pitted or whole, and defect tolerances (max % broken skin, fermented/sour, insect damage — typically ≤5% combined for Grade 1). “Grade A Siwi, 60–70 dates/kg, ≤18–20% moisture, pest-free, current crop” is a real spec.
Packing Options
| Format | Net weight | Notes for buyers |
|---|---|---|
| Bulk carton | 10 kg | The standard wholesale unit for semi-dry dates; pressed or loose fill |
| Carton | 5 kg | Small-wholesale and foodservice; popular pre-Ramadan |
| Retail boxes / trays | 400 g – 1 kg | Printed private-label boxes, flow-wrapped trays; MOQ per design |
| PP bags (dry dates) | 25–50 kg | Sakkoti and dry varieties for African/Asian wholesale |
| Pouches | 200–500 g | Premium pitted programs and snacking formats |
Semi-dry dates ship best in reefer containers at 0–5°C (or at least cool ambient in winter) to prevent sugaring and fermentation; dry Sakkoti travels in ordinary dry containers year-round — one reason it dominates price-sensitive African trade. Fumigation before stuffing is standard for all classes.
Season Timing: Harvest Sep–Dec, Supply Year-Round
The Egyptian date harvest runs September through December: fresh Zaghloul/Samany open the season, semi-dry Siwi and Amhat follow from October, and dry Aswan varieties close it. Processed, graded stock then ships year-round from cold stores, so importers are never locked to the harvest window — but the best fruit selection and pricing go to buyers who contract at or just after harvest. Cross-reference the Egyptian produce seasons calendar when slotting dates into a wider program.
The Ramadan Clock
Dates are the single most Ramadan-sensitive product in the Egyptian catalogue — the month can represent the majority of a distributor’s annual date sales. Work backwards from Ramadan’s start: contract 4–5 months ahead, ship 2–3 months ahead, land 4–6 weeks ahead so repacking and distribution finish before the first iftar. The full countdown, with what else to load in the same containers, is in our Ramadan mixed container planning guide.
QC Checkpoints Buyers Should Demand
- Approved pre-shipment sample — courier a sealed sample and hold shipments against it.
- Moisture and water-activity report per lot — the numbers behind shelf life; semi-dry typically 18–23% moisture, dry ≤18%.
- Fumigation certificate and nil-live-infestation confirmation — the classic date claim is insects; make it contractual.
- Sorting standard — laser/manual sorting for pits and fragments on pitted lines; metal detection certificate for retail programs.
- Microbiology basics (yeasts/moulds, E. coli, Salmonella absent) for retail and pitted product.
- Crop year on documents and cartons — insist on current crop or an agreed blend, and matching lot codes on the phytosanitary certificate.
How Dates Fit a Mixed Container
Dates rarely fill a whole container for a mid-size buyer — and they do not need to. Dry Sakkoti and carton-packed semi-dry dates combine naturally with fava beans, lentils, chickpeas and rice in one dry box: the classic pre-Ramadan grocery load. Reefer programs pair date pallets with other cool-chain cargo at 0–5°C. Build examples are in the Ramadan container guide and the mixed containers cornerstone.
FAQ
Which Egyptian date variety should a first-time importer start with?
Siwi — it is the recognised Egyptian semi-dry date with the broadest consumer acceptance and steady supply. Add Amhat for a value tier and Sakkoti if your market takes dry dates.
Do Egyptian dates need refrigerated shipping?
Semi-dry varieties (Siwi, Amhat) are best shipped reefer at 0–5°C for quality retention, especially in warm months. Dry varieties like Sakkoti ship safely in standard dry containers — a major cost advantage.
When should I book dates for Ramadan?
Contract by 4–5 months before Ramadan and land goods 4–6 weeks ahead. Because Ramadan moves ~11 days earlier each year, recheck the calendar annually — late bookings collide with the seasonal freight and price peak.
Get a Same-Day Dates Quotation
Tell us variety, grade, pack format and destination — quotation the same day, whether a full load or dates as part of a mixed grocery container. PEIVANA is the flexible Egyptian exporter, shipping from Alexandria, Damietta, Sokhna and Port Said.