Most first enquiries we receive ask for a price on Egyptian mango without naming a variety. That is the wrong place to start. Keitt, Kent and Naomi behave differently in transit, ripen at different speeds and sell into different channels, and the variety decision usually has more effect on the outcome of a programme than the FOB difference between them. This is how we compare the three for buyers.
Season windows
Naomi is the earliest of the three in commercial export volume, running from roughly early July into August. Kent follows, with the main picking window from late July into early September. Keitt is the late variety and carries the season through September and often into October. If your programme needs continuous supply from July to October, you are almost certainly buying at least two of the three, and the handover points are where planning matters.
Fruit characteristics
Naomi is an oval fruit with a strong red blush over yellow, low fibre and a thin stone. It presents very well on shelf, which is why it works for premium retail and gift packs. It has the shortest post harvest window of the three, so it favours shorter lanes and buyers with reliable ripening capacity. Full specification is in our note on Naomi mango sizes and counts.
Kent is the variety most European importers know. Green to dark red skin, deep orange flesh, very low fibre, small flat stone and a high edible yield. It ripens evenly under controlled conditions, which suits ripening rooms and retail programmes that need predictable colour break. Details are set out in our Kent mango specification.
Keitt stays green even when fully mature, which surprises buyers who are new to it. The flesh is firm, sweet and almost fibreless, the fruit sizes larger than Kent, and it holds condition longer than either of the other two. That firmness is why Keitt is the workhorse for long sea lanes and for foodservice and cut fruit customers. Our Keitt mango specification covers sizes and carton formats.
Sizing and packing
All three are packed in single layer corrugated cartons, most commonly 4 kilograms net, with 5.5 and 6 kilogram formats available. Naomi and Kent typically grade at counts of 8 to 12 per 4 kilogram carton. Keitt sizes larger and usually runs counts of 6 to 9 in the same carton. Individual net sleeves, moulded trays and printed liners are standard options. Palletisation is 8 cartons per layer on a 100 by 120 centimetre pallet, and a 40 foot high cube reefer holds 20 pallets.
Matching variety to channel
For premium retail with strong visual appeal and a short lane, Naomi is the natural choice. For mainstream retail and any programme built around a ripening room, Kent gives the most consistent result. For distant markets, for foodservice, and for buyers who need the fruit to hold through a longer distribution chain, Keitt is the safer commitment. Many of our importers run Kent through August and switch to Keitt from September, which is the simplest way to keep one specification alive across the whole season.
Nile Prime ships from Alexandria, Damietta and Sokhna on FOB, CFR and CIF terms under Incoterms 2020, with phytosanitary certification and traceability to the farm block. To discuss which variety fits your market and to receive a written offer with current counts and sailing dates, message us on WhatsApp at +20 10 9911 1918.