Demand for egyptian sweet potato wholesale has surged as European retailers look for a closer, faster alternative to US supply. Egypt’s Beauregard crop — grown on sandy reclaimed land with warm days and cool nights — delivers the orange-fleshed, copper-skinned roots European consumers recognise, at 6–10 day transits to EU ports instead of 3+ weeks from North Carolina. The export window runs August through February, with cured stock extending programs beyond it.
But sweet potatoes are not a commodity you buy on photos alone: curing separates professional suppliers from field traders. PEIVANA ships cured, graded Beauregard from stations linked to Alexandria, Damietta, Sokhna, and Port Said. Here is what an importer should specify — and verify.
Varieties & Grades
Beauregard dominates: uniform elliptical shape, rose-copper skin, deep-orange flesh, good brix after curing. Smaller programs run on Bellevue (smoother skin, uniform shape) for premium retail specs.
- Class 1 (A-grade): well-shaped roots, skin defects under 5% of surface, no cuts, no weevil damage, no sprouting — retail programs.
- Class 2 (B-grade): more shape variation, healed skinning marks allowed — wholesale and processing.
- Jumbo / oversize: sold separately for foodservice and fries processing.
Why Curing Matters
Freshly dug roots have fragile skin and open wounds. Curing — 5–7 days at 28–30°C and 85–90% humidity — heals wounds, sets the skin, converts starches to sugars, and extends storage life from weeks to months. Uncured roots may look fine at loading and arrive with rot, skinning, and weight loss. Always ask when and how the lot was cured; a serious exporter answers with dates and chamber temperatures, not reassurances.
Sizes & Calibers
| Size class | Root weight (g) | Length | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | 100–200 | 10–15 cm | Retail nets, snacking |
| M | 200–450 | 13–20 cm | Core retail spec (EU) |
| L | 450–700 | 18–25 cm | Foodservice |
| Jumbo | 700+ | — | Processing, fries |
The EU retail sweet spot is M-size, 200–450 g — specify percentage per size class, and whether roots are washed or brushed (brushed stores better; washed presents better).
Packing Options
| Format | Net weight | Cartons / pallet | Cartons / 40′ container | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carton | 6 kg | 120–150 | ~3,400 | UK/EU retail |
| Carton | 10 kg | 80–100 | ~2,300 | EU wholesale |
| Carton / crate | 18 kg | 48–56 | ~1,300 | Wholesale, processing |
| Big bag | 500–1,000 kg | — | 20–24 t | Industry |
Cured roots ship in ventilated dry containers in the cool months or reefers at +13 to +15°C — never below 12°C, as chilling causes hardcore and internal breakdown.
Season
Harvest starts in August, with fresh-crop shipments through February and cured-store programs bridging into spring. Check the overlap with onions, citrus, and garlic in our Egyptian produce seasons calendar.
QC Checkpoints Buyers Should Demand
- Curing records per lot: dates, temperature, humidity.
- Weevil and wireworm inspection with zero live-insect tolerance and documented field monitoring.
- Cut tests for internal defects and flesh colour uniformity.
- Skinning score at packing — cured skin should resist a firm thumb rub.
- Residue analysis against EU MRLs for retail programs, plus GLOBALG.A.P.-certified farm sourcing where required.
Mixed-Container Fit
At +13–15°C, sweet potatoes pair naturally with onions, garlic, and pumpkins in ventilated or mid-temperature loads — a strong autumn combination for EU and Gulf buyers who want variety without five separate bookings. Our mixed produce containers guide covers compatibility rules, and the winter mixed container: citrus & onions article shows how root-vegetable pallets slot into winter programs.
FAQ
How long do cured Egyptian sweet potatoes store?
Properly cured Beauregard holds 3–5 months at 13–15°C and 85% RH — importers can build stock rather than chase weekly arrivals.
Washed or unwashed — what should I order?
Brushed (unwashed) for maximum storage life; washed and graded for direct-to-retail programs. We pack both to order.
What is the minimum order?
Full 40′ containers (~22–24 t) or pallet lines inside mixed loads — as the flexible Egyptian exporter, we build mid-size programs around your cash flow.
Get a Sweet Potato Quotation
Send your size spec, packing format, and destination port for a same-day quote. Contact PEIVANA or message us on WhatsApp.