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Egyptian strawberries: air freight or sea freight?
Strawberries are among the most perishable products. How to choose between air and sea freight for your market and budget.
Egyptian strawberries are available from November to April, when European supply is low, so demand is strong across Europe and the Gulf. Their short life, though, makes the shipping decision critical.
Air freight
- Reaches Gulf and European markets within hours.
- Suited to fresh strawberries going straight onto supermarket shelves.
- Costs more, but gives the longest shelf life after arrival.
Sea freight
- Suited to relatively close markets and large volumes.
- Needs immediate pre-cooling, near-zero temperatures and sometimes modified atmosphere packaging.
- Cheaper, but leaves a shorter shelf life after arrival.
Packing
Strawberries are hand-picked straight into 250 g or 500 g punnets, then placed in 2 kg or 2.5 kg trays. Packing in the field reduces handling and keeps the fruit in shape.
How to decide
Ask how many days the fruit needs to last on the shelf after arrival. If the answer is more than a few days, air freight is usually cheaper in the end, because losses from spoiled fruit cost more than the freight difference.
