Buyers sourcing egyptian pomegranate wholesale get one of the best value propositions in the category: Egypt harvests from August to November, ahead of most Mediterranean competitors, with fruit that combines deep-red arils, high juice yield, and the sturdiness for 3–4 week sea transits. Assiut and Upper Egypt orchards have expanded rapidly, and Egyptian Wonderful now competes head-to-head with Indian and Turkish fruit in Gulf, Asian, and European markets.
PEIVANA packs pomegranates in export stations linked to Alexandria, Damietta, Sokhna, and Port Said, loading full containers or 2–8 pallet lines inside mixed loads. This guide gives importers the full specification picture: varieties, count sizing, packing, and — critically — the aril-quality checks that decide whether your fruit sells at a premium or gets discounted on arrival.
Varieties & Grades
Wonderful (September–November) is the export leader: large fruit, deep crimson skin, dark-red arils, soft seeds, and a sweet-tart balance at 15–17 brix. It stores and ships better than any other Egyptian cultivar.
Baladi (August–October) is the traditional early type: pink-to-red blushed skin, pale-pink sweet arils, lower acidity. It opens the season and serves markets that prefer a sweeter, milder profile at a sharper price. Limited Early 116 volumes bridge August demand.
- Class 1: uniform colour, no cracks, no sunburn beyond light bronzing, calyx intact — retail and premium wholesale.
- Class 2: more surface bronzing and russeting allowed, sound internal quality — open markets and juicing.
Sizes & Calibers
Egyptian pomegranates are sized by count per carton (typically 3.5–4 kg net):
| Count / carton | Fruit weight (g) | Diameter (mm) | Typical markets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 500–600+ | 95–105 | GCC premium retail |
| 8 | 400–500 | 88–96 | GCC, Europe |
| 10 | 330–400 | 80–90 | Europe, Russia |
| 12 | 270–330 | 74–84 | Asia, wholesale |
| 14 | 230–270 | 68–78 | Price-driven markets |
Counts 8–10 are the commercial core; specify count mix and minimum fruit weight per count on the contract.
Packing Options
| Format | Net weight | Layers | Cartons / 40′ reefer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open-top carton | 3.5–4 kg | Single layer | ~4,600–5,000 | Standard export |
| Telescopic carton | 5 kg | Single layer | ~3,800 | Russia, Europe |
| Bulk carton | 10 kg | Double layer | ~2,200 | Wholesale, juicing |
| Plastic crate | 8–10 kg | Double layer | ~2,000 | Gulf markets |
Fruit is individually inspected, often paper-wrapped for premium counts. Carriage at +5 to +7°C, 90–95% RH — below 5°C risks chilling injury (skin pitting, husk scald).
Season
The window runs August through November: Baladi and Early 116 from August, Wonderful from mid-September to November, with cold-stored Wonderful stretching shipments into December. Align it with your autumn program using the Egyptian produce seasons calendar.
QC Checkpoints: Aril Quality First
- Cut tests every lot: aril colour photographed against an agreed reference — external blush does not guarantee red arils, especially early season.
- Brix minimum 14–15 for Wonderful, with juice yield noted.
- Internal breakdown screening: cut fruit checked for heart rot (alternaria) — the silent killer that shows no external symptoms.
- Crack and sunburn tolerance fixed in numbers (e.g., max 2% light bronzing in Class 1), not adjectives.
- Weight-per-count verification and pulp temperature logging at stuffing.
Mixed-Container Fit
Pomegranates ship at +5–7°C, making them natural partners for citrus, grapes (late-season overlap), and onions in one reefer. A common autumn build: 12 pallets pomegranates + 8 pallets early citrus or onions. See the mixed produce containers guide for how we engineer these loads, and the winter mixed container: citrus & onions plan that pomegranates slot into from October.
FAQ
Wonderful or Baladi — which should I import?
Wonderful for red-aril, long-transit retail programs; Baladi for early-season windows and markets preferring sweet, low-acid fruit. Many buyers run Baladi in August–September then switch to Wonderful.
How long does Egyptian pomegranate keep?
Wonderful holds 6–8 weeks at 5–7°C with good humidity, so fruit arrives with ample selling window even after a 25-day voyage.
Can I order less than a full container?
Yes — as the flexible Egyptian exporter we regularly load 2–8 pallets of pomegranates inside mixed containers for mid-size importers.
Get a Pomegranate Quotation
Send counts, grade, packing format, and destination for a same-day quote from any of our four ports. Contact PEIVANA or message us on WhatsApp.