The Egyptian mango season has moved into its second half. Keitt is now the only variety shipping at commercial volume. Kent finished in the first week of August and Naomi closed before it. What remains to be decided for most buyers is how much September volume to commit to and at which counts.
Variety position this week
Keitt is picking across Ismailia, Sharqia and the reclamation areas west of the Delta. Fruit is arriving at the packhouses with good dry matter and firm flesh, which is what buyers on longer sea routings need. Colour on Keitt remains predominantly green with a light blush, and buyers who market on colour rather than eating quality should set expectations with their own customers accordingly.
Kent and Naomi are finished for the 2026 season. Any offer of Kent at this point in August is either stored fruit or mislabelled, and we would advise checking the harvest date on the lot code before accepting it.
Sizing curve
The sizing curve has tightened over the past ten days, which is normal as the pick moves through the tree. Counts of 8 and 9 per 4 kg carton are the freest availability this week. Counts of 6 and 7, meaning the larger fruit that Gulf wholesale markets prefer, are shorter and are being allocated rather than sold open. Counts of 10 and 12 are available and are the practical option for retail punnet packs and for buyers who need a lower price point per carton.
Buyers who need a specific count should confirm it at the time of booking rather than at loading. A full breakdown of the count structure and what each one suits is in our reference on Egyptian mango sizing and carton counts.
Availability and booking lead times
Keitt volume is expected to hold through the last week of August and then taper through September. Historically the tail runs into the first half of October in the desert areas, where later flowering pushes the harvest back. Volume in that tail is thinner and the sizing curve narrows further.
Booking lead time from confirmed order to gate-in is currently running seven to ten days for a full reefer, assuming the specification is agreed and the deposit is in place. Reefer equipment availability at Alexandria and Damietta is adequate this week. Sokhna sailings for Gulf and Asian routings are running to schedule.
Ports and transit
Alexandria remains the primary loading port for European destinations. Damietta is being used for Eastern Mediterranean and Black Sea routings. Sokhna handles the Gulf and Red Sea traffic. Transit to Jeddah and Jebel Ali is running at the usual seven to twelve days depending on the service. North European ports are at eleven to sixteen days. All offers are quoted on Incoterms 2020, most commonly FOB Alexandria or CFR at the named destination port.
What to do this week
If you have September volume to place, this is the point in the season to commit it. Late-season allocation on Keitt is set against confirmed orders, and buyers who wait until the first week of September will be working with what is left of the sizing curve rather than choosing from it. The practical considerations for that stage of the season are set out in our note on late-season Egyptian mango and planning the handover.
Nile Prime ships Keitt in 4 kg export cartons, Class I and Class II, with pre-cooling, pallet configuration and reefer set points documented on every load. Third party inspection is available on request.
For current counts, pricing and vessel positions, contact our export team on WhatsApp at +20 10 9911 1918 with your destination port, required count and monthly volume.