Egyptian oranges: Navel vs Valencia, counts, grades and packing

Egypt is one of the world’s largest exporters of fresh oranges, and for many importers “Egyptian oranges” simply means Valencia. In practice, two varieties cover the export season, and each suits a different programme. This guide explains how Navel and Valencia differ, which counts and grades to ask for, and how to pack and ship them.

Two varieties, one long season

	Navel	Valencia
Export window	December – February	February – May
Seeds	Seedless	Few or no seeds
Peel	Easy to peel	Thin, firm peel
Best use	Early-season fresh retail	Retail, wholesale and juicing
Travel	Shorter routes preferred	Travels well on long voyages

Navel opens the season. The fruit is seedless and easy to peel, which makes it a strong retail item before Christmas and in January. Valencia takes over from February and runs until May. It is the backbone of Egyptian exports: juicy, sweet and robust enough for long voyages to the Gulf, Russia and East Asia. Peak volumes are usually from February to April.

Counts: how size is expressed

Orange size is expressed as a count: the number of fruits that fill a standard 15 kg carton. A lower count means bigger fruit. Our common counts are 42, 48, 56, 64, 72, 80, 88, 100, 113 and 125.

• Counts 42–56 — large fruit for premium retail and some Gulf markets.
• Counts 64–88 — the most traded range for European and Russian retail and wholesale.
• Counts 100–125 — smaller fruit for price-driven programmes, net bags and juicing.

Ask for a range of two or three counts rather than one. The orchard does not grow a single size, and a flexible range gives better availability and price.

Grade: Class I, Class II or your own

Class I fruit has good shape and colour with only slight skin defects. Class II allows more cosmetic defects and suits wholesale and processing. Many retailers write their own specification on top: colour, Brix, acidity, maximum percentage of skin marks, or a minimum juice content. Put these limits in writing before the first shipment, so both sides judge the fruit the same way.

Packing options

• 15 kg telescopic carton — the standard export format, packed by count.
• 10 kg open-top carton — lighter handling and display-ready for some retailers.
• 14 kg ventilated plastic crate — for wholesale markets and short handling chains.
• 1–3 kg net bags — consumer bags in master cartons, printed with your brand.

Private label is available on printed cartons and bags. Share your artwork and label language early, because printed materials need lead time before peak weeks. See our private-label guide for the steps.

Post-harvest and cold chain

After harvest, oranges are washed, graded, waxed where the market allows it and packed by count. Pallets are pre-cooled before loading. A typical carrying temperature is +3 to +5 °C at 85–90% relative humidity, with ventilation around 20–25 m³/h. Some markets require cold treatment against fruit flies; this is agreed per destination before loading. Our cold-chain guide explains reefer settings in more detail.

How many oranges in a container?

A 40ft reefer typically carries around 1,500–1,600 cartons of 15 kg on 20–21 pallets, depending on carton footprint and pallet pattern. Net bags and crates change the numbers, so confirm the load plan with each quotation.

Writing a good orange specification

1. Variety and shipment weeks (e.g. Valencia, weeks 8–16).
2. Count range (e.g. 64–80).
3. Grade and tolerances.
4. Pack, net weight and label.
5. Waxing and post-harvest treatments allowed in your market.
6. Pallet type and cartons per pallet.
7. Temperature, cold treatment if needed, and inspection evidence.

Valencia gives volume and reliability; Navel gives an early-season retail story. Many importers run both, back to back.

Specifications and availability for the current season are on our Egyptian oranges page. For mandarins and lemons, read our citrus overview.