The Egyptian mango season has moved into its second half. Early August is the point at which the variety mix on offer changes materially from week to week, so a quotation given in mid-July is often no longer a fair description of what is loading now. This update sets out where each of our three export varieties stands, what sizing looks like on the line, and how far ahead buyers need to book for the remainder of the season.
Keitt
Keitt is at peak. Volume from Ismailia, Sharqia and the Nubaria reclaimed areas is arriving in full flow, and this is the widest sizing spread we will see all season. Fruit is running strongly through counts 6, 7 and 8 in the 4 kg carton, with count 5 available in useful quantity from the older blocks. Skin remains predominantly green at export maturity, which is normal for Keitt and is not an indicator of immaturity. Dry matter is testing well within our cutting specification. For buyers who need a green-skinned mango with a long handling life at destination, this is the strongest window of the year, and it will run through September on the later blocks.
Kent
Kent is finishing. Volume has fallen back over the past two weeks and the remaining fruit is concentrated in the smaller counts, mostly 8 and 9 per 4 kg carton. Larger Kent for retail programmes is now difficult to commit in quantity. Buyers with an outstanding Kent requirement should treat the next two to three weeks as the closing window rather than assume availability into September. Where a programme specifically needs the Kent eating profile, we can discuss a partial substitution with Naomi, which sits closer to Kent than Keitt does on sweetness and colour development.
Naomi
Naomi is mid-season and steady. Sizing is centred on counts 7 and 8, with good colour break and a consistent blush that suits Gulf retail. Naomi has been the variety of choice this season for buyers supplying supermarket shelves rather than wholesale markets, largely because the fruit presents well and carries a predictable ripening curve. The full specification is set out in our note on Naomi sizes, counts and ripening profile.
Booking positions for August and September
Reefer equipment out of Alexandria and Damietta is tight in August, which is normal for the peak of the season and is compounded this year by strong parallel demand on grape and pomegranate. Practical guidance is to confirm a booking at least ten days before the intended sailing for Gulf destinations and at least fourteen days for northern Europe and the Black Sea. Spot containers can still be arranged, but the sailing date rather than the fruit becomes the constraint.
Pricing is quoted per shipment against variety, count, carton format and Incoterms 2020 basis, and moves with harvest volume and freight availability. We do not publish a season price, because a number given without a count and a delivery term is not usable for planning.
What to send with an enquiry
To get a workable quotation back the same day, tell us the variety, the count per 4 kg carton, the number of containers or pallets, the destination port and whether you are buying on FOB or CFR terms. Buyers already looking past September should read our planning note on late-season Keitt shipments, since the tail of the season is contracted rather than bought spot.
Reach the Nile Prime export desk on WhatsApp at +20 10 9911 1918 for current availability and a same-week loading position.