Fresh figs are among the most delicate items in the entire produce trade, and the egyptian figs export window — July through September — is short, intense, and rewarding for buyers who get the handling right. Egypt’s Sultani fig, grown along the northwest coast and in Ismailia, offers honey-sweet amber flesh and a supply window that lands squarely in Gulf and European summer demand.
There is no margin for error with figs: they do not ripen after picking, they bruise under their own weight, and they mould within days if the cold chain slips. That is why PEIVANA handles figs as a specialist line — single-layer packing, harvest-day cooling, and mostly air freight, with short-sea options for nearby markets from Alexandria, Damietta, Sokhna, and Port Said.
Varieties & Grades
Sultani is the flagship export fig: medium-large fruit, greenish-yellow to light-brown skin, amber-pink flesh, very high sugars (18–22+ brix). Smaller volumes of dark-skinned local types serve niche programs.
- Class 1 / Extra: uniform size and colour, intact skin, firm-ripe (yields slightly to pressure), stem attached, no ostiole cracking beyond hairline — the only grade worth flying.
- Class 2: minor skin marks and light cracking — local and short-transit markets only.
Sizes & Calibers
| Size | Fruit weight (g) | Fruits / 1 kg tray | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large | 60–80+ | 12–16 | Premium retail, foodservice |
| Medium | 45–60 | 16–22 | Standard retail |
| Small | 30–45 | 22–30 | Wholesale, patisserie |
Packing: Single Layer, Always
| Format | Net weight | Configuration | Channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-layer tray | 1 kg | Paper-cupped cells | Air export standard |
| Punnet in tray | 4–6 × 250 g | Single layer | Premium retail |
| Shallow carton | 2 kg | Single layer, padded | Wholesale, short transit |
Never accept double-layer fig packing for export — the bottom layer arrives crushed. Trays are pre-cooled and shipped at 0 to +2°C, 90–95% RH; commercial life is 7–10 days from harvest.
Season
The main Sultani crop runs July to September, peaking in August. It slots neatly between Egypt’s spring stone-fruit lines and autumn pomegranates — see the Egyptian produce seasons calendar for the full summer line-up.
QC & Handling Checkpoints
- Harvest at dawn, firm-ripe stage, clipped with stem — figs picked soft never travel; figs picked hard never sweeten.
- Field heat out within 2 hours — room- or forced-air cooling to 2°C on harvest day.
- Souring and mould screening: smell test at the ostiole per sampled tray; zero fermented fruit tolerance.
- Ostiole condition: open, cracked ostioles admit spoilage — specify a maximum tolerance.
- Data logger on every air consignment, with same-day-as-flight packing.
Air vs Sea — and Mixed-Consignment Fit
Air freight is the default for Gulf and European figs; short-sea reefer works only for 3–5 day transits to nearby Mediterranean and Gulf ports. Figs rarely fly alone: we consolidate them with strawberries (in the winter shoulder), grapes, and herbs on shared airline pallets — the model described in our air-sea combo article. For how consolidation works across the full catalog, see the mixed produce containers guide.
FAQ
How long do fresh Egyptian figs last after arrival?
Plan for 3–5 days of distribution and display at 0–2°C after a 1–2 day air journey. Figs are a sell-on-arrival product; align orders with confirmed retail slots.
What is the minimum order?
From ~300–500 kg when consolidated with other air products — as the flexible Egyptian exporter, we build fig trays into shared consignments so mid-size buyers can test the line.
Can figs go by sea?
Only on short legs (3–5 days port-to-port) with impeccable pre-cooling. For anything longer, air is the only commercially safe route.
Get a Fig Quotation
Send your size band, tray format, and destination airport for a same-day quote during the July–September window. Contact PEIVANA or message us on WhatsApp.