Egypt has emerged as the top exporter of fresh grapes to Finland, doubling shipments in 2025 and securing nearly half of the country’s total imports, according to EastFruit. Finland purchased almost 8,000 tons of Egyptian grapes last year, valued at more than EUR 25 million. This marks a twofold increase over 2024, a sixfold rise compared to 2023, and a new record for bilateral trade.
Grapes are among Egypt’s three most important fruit export categories, ranking just behind oranges and frozen strawberries in export value. While shipments to Finland were traditionally concentrated in the second half of the year, 2025 saw a sharp shift, with nearly half of exports delivered in the first six months.
The change was driven by disruptions in South Africa, Finland’s traditional supplier. During the peak export season (January-March 2025), Cape Town port, South Africa’s main fruit export hub, suffered equipment breakdowns and extreme weather, causing vessel delays of up to two weeks and compromising product quality. Finnish importers responded by turning to Egypt, which offered reliable logistics through the Mediterranean.
By year-end, Egypt had overtaken South Africa for the first time, capturing 47.2% of Finland’s grape imports and positioning Finland among the top five destinations for Egyptian grapes. South Africa fell to third place, behind Spain, in Finland’s supplier ranking. Overall, Finland sourced fresh grapes from 20 countries in 2025.
Egypt also strengthened its position in other European markets, tripling exports to Italy and achieving record growth in the United Kingdom.
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