Cabbage rarely makes headlines, but for importers running winter vegetable programs it is a dependable margin line — dense, durable, and cheap to freight. The Egyptian cabbage export window runs November through April, when Delta-grown white and red cabbage reaches the Gulf, East Africa and Eastern Europe with head quality that stores for weeks after arrival.
PEIVANA, the flexible Egyptian exporter of the PEI Trade family, ships cabbage from Alexandria, Damietta, Sokhna and Port Said as full loads or as a base layer in mixed winter containers. Here is the buyer’s spec: head weights, wrapper-leaf standards, bag and bin formats, and the QC points that decide storage life.
Types and Grades
- White (green) cabbage: the volume line — dense round heads, pale-green interior, tight wrapper leaves.
- Red cabbage: deep-purple heads, typically 10–20% of a mixed cabbage order for retail programs.
- Pointed (sweetheart) cabbage: available on program request for EU retail.
- Class 1: firm, heavy-for-size heads, trimmed to 2–4 wrapper leaves, stem cut flush, free of splits, pest damage and yellowing.
- Class 2: looser heads and minor blemishes — wholesale and catering channels.
Sizes & Head Weights
| Band | Head weight | Typical market |
|---|---|---|
| Small | 1–1.5 kg | EU/UK retail, red cabbage core size |
| Medium | 1.5–2.5 kg | Gulf retail, general wholesale |
| Large | 2.5–3 kg | Wholesale, catering, East Europe |
| Extra large | 3+ kg | Processing, regional markets |
Specify one band per pallet; mixed-band loads are split and labeled by pallet.
Packing Formats
| Format | Net weight | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mesh / poly bag | 20 kg | Wholesale standard, 8–14 heads per bag |
| Bulk bins | 300–400 kg | Forklift unloading, processors and DCs |
| Carton | 10–15 kg | Retail programs, wrapped heads optional |
| Loose bulk | ~25–26 t / 40′ | Price-driven regional markets |
Season: November to April
Plantings are staggered so heads cut continuously from November to April, with peak density and lowest cost January–March. Cabbage anchors the same calendar slot as onions, carrots and citrus — see the Egyptian produce seasons calendar for the full winter lineup.
QC Checkpoints
- Density check: heads must feel heavy for size; light heads are immature and collapse in storage.
- Trim standard: 2–4 clean wrapper leaves — enough to protect, not enough to hide defects.
- Split and pest inspection on the packing line, lot by lot.
- Stem cut: flush and clean — the stem face is the first mold indicator buyers check on arrival.
- Carriage: 0–2°C, 90–95% RH; correctly cooled cabbage stores 3–6 weeks after discharge.
Mixed-Container Fit
Running at 0–2°C, cabbage is the classic floor line in a mixed produce container from Egypt — heavy bags low, lighter cartons of leafy and root vegetables above. It is a standing component of our winter mixed container with citrus and onions, where 4–6 pallets of cabbage stabilize both the load plan and the landed-cost sheet. PEIVANA builds these combinations to order — no full-container minimum per line.
FAQ
What head weight should I order for retail?
1–2.5 kg covers most retail programs: 1–1.5 kg for EU shelves, 1.5–2.5 kg for Gulf retail. Above 2.5 kg is wholesale and catering territory.
How long does Egyptian cabbage store after arrival?
With an unbroken 0–2°C chain, white cabbage holds 3–6 weeks post-discharge; red cabbage slightly longer.
Can white and red cabbage ship in one container?
Yes — identical temperature regime. Typical retail splits run 80/20 or 70/30 white to red, palletized separately.
Get a Cabbage Quotation
Base specs are on the cabbage product page. Send head-weight band, format and destination — you get a same-day quote. Contact PEIVANA or message us on WhatsApp.