As fall approaches, Egypt’s guava cultivation season begins in mid-September and runs through late December. Guava is one of Egypt’s most popular fruits, supported by favorable climatic conditions, particularly in the Nile Delta and Upper Egypt. Egyptian guava is valued for its quality, sweetness, and nutritional benefits, making it a staple in the domestic market while also offering strong export potential. Its distinctive quality continues to attract growing interest from international buyers.

In this Factsheet, we explore Egypt’s guava sector, including its production, market trends, and export potential.

• Guava is not native to Egypt. Experts believe it was introduced to the country from India, the world’s largest guava producer, during the 1830s. Since then, guava has become widely cultivated and consumed across Egypt, with its peak season typically beginning in early autumn and extending into the start of winter.
• Guavas in Egypt are cultivated from late summer through late spring, with several varieties grown across the country. Three main varieties are commonly marketed as Egyptian guava: Bassateen El Sabahia, Bassateen Edfina, and Allahabad Safeda. Egyptian guavas are known for their high yields, distinctive aroma, and balanced sweet-tart flavor, contributing to their popularity in both domestic and export markets.
• In the 2024 season, Egypt’s cultivated area for guava reached 43,487 feddan, representing 2.4% of the total fruit cultivated area in Egypt.
• In 2024, Egypt ranked as the world’s 9th largest producer of guava, with an overall market share of 3%. Egypt’s guava production in 2024 reached 359,396 tons, accounting for 2.6% of the country’s total fruit production.
• At the governorate level, Behira is the top guava-producing governorate, with production of 152,335 tons, representing around 42.2% of total guava production. Alexandria came second, with production of 41,447 tons, equivalent to 11.5% of Egypt’s total production, followed by Qalyubia, with 34,491 tons.
• Guava is Egypt’s 10th-largest agricultural export product. In 2025, Egypt exported $18.8 million worth of guava. This amount accounted for around 0.4% of Egypt’s agricultural exports.
• In 2025, Egypt’s exports of fresh guava reached 45 markets around the world. Saudi Arabia was the top importer, with $6.9 million worth of guavas from Egypt, representing 37% of the country’s exports. The UK came second, with imports of $2.3 million, followed by Canada, with imports of $1.94 million.
• According to the International Trade Centre’s estimates, Egypt can boost its guava exports to $214 million by the end of 2030. These untapped export opportunities can be directed to several markets including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Russia.

 

By: Amina Hussein