EGAST for agricultural crops is aiming to increase its sales to Europe this season by 30%, up from 1,500 tonnes in the last season. The company’s exports to the rest of the world amounted to 80,000 tonnes.
According to Mohamed Deghedy, EGAST export manager, the European market for fresh fruits and vegetables is a target market for Egyptian suppliers, based on high popularity and high demand, as well as the premium prices. However, it is a very mature market that is well controlled by legislation and certificates, according to the company.
“For our group of companies “EGAST”, we have been in the EU market for numerous years supplying its various countries with our choice fruits and vegetables. EGAST supplied about 15,000 tonnes last season to Greece, Holland, Italy and Poland, who received potatoes, onions, and oranges. In addition, our exports to the Asian market, Russia, Fareast, and Arab counties were estimated at 80,000 tonnes, and we plan to increase our volume by 30% especially to the EU market during the coming season 2018/19,” said the company’s export manager.
For this purpose, EGAST is expanding its factory, as they planted 2,500 feddan for citrus varieties valencia oranges, Murcott mandarin–sweet orange hybrid, and lemons. They also increased the planted area for potatoes to 14,000 feddans, all in the most appropriate soil for each product, to guarantee perfect production and quality, indicated Deghedy.
This comes is in addition to EGAST’s new investment of EGP 250m for citrus packhouses and cold stores, with a daily capacity of 300 tonnes as a priority, which will propel the company’s exports worldwide, according to EGAST’s export manager.
EGAST participate in the Madrid exhibition, as they believe in the positive role of exhibitions, and B2B meetings, which promote and market the company’s, concluded Deghedy.
