Everything a first-time importer needs: the 6-step process, Nafeza / ACID registration, phytosanitary paperwork, reefer-container specs per product, the Incoterms cheat sheet, and the payment structures that actually work in Egyptian fresh-produce trade. Written by the AFRICAFRESH EXPORT sourcing desk for buyers who want to skip the learning curve.
The 6-step process
Identify products, destination, and volume
Pick the commodity lines you need (see our 19-product catalog), destination country and port, target weekly or monthly volume, and delivery window. The earlier in a season you lock supply, the better your pricing — AFRICAFRESH EXPORT opens next-season quotes ~4 months before the Egyptian harvest.
Agree commercial terms
Lock incoterms, payment method, pricing band, delivery schedule, and quality specification. Issue a written Sales Contract covering:
- Product description (with variety names and calibers).
- Quantity and delivery schedule (weekly / fortnightly / monthly cadence).
- Incoterm (see table below).
- Quality standard (EU Class 1 default; Class Extra for premium).
- Payment instrument and terms.
- Packaging specification (AFRICAFRESH EXPORT standard or buyer private label).
- Force majeure clause.
- Quality-dispute process (48-hour window with photographic evidence).
Exporter-side registration — Nafeza / ACID
Egypt's customs operates through Nafeza, the single-window cargo registration system (nafeza.gov.eg). Before any container leaves Egyptian ports, an ACID number (Advanced Cargo Information Declaration) must be issued and matched at destination. AFRICAFRESH EXPORT files the ACID for every shipment. You, the buyer, provide:
- Your company's importer / IOR (Importer of Record) details.
- Your import-country tax ID / VAT number.
- Destination port and delivery address.
ACID is issued 5–10 days before vessel ETD. Failure to issue it correctly can cause shipment holds at both Egyptian and destination customs.
Phytosanitary and origin certification
Every consignment travels with:
- Phytosanitary Certificate — issued by the Egyptian MALR within 72 hours of inspection.
- Certificate of Origin — legalised by the Egyptian Chamber of Commerce; EUR.1 for EU-Egypt Association Agreement destinations.
- Commercial Invoice — HS-coded per line.
- Packing List — carton-level detail.
- Bill of Lading / Airway Bill — with reefer setpoint declared.
- Health Certificate — for processed lines.
- GlobalG.A.P. / BRCGS / Halal / Organic certificates — farm- or packhouse-level copies where applicable.
- EU MRL analysis — for EU-bound shipments, residue testing at Cairo accredited labs.
Reefer loading + departure
Depending on route: Alexandria, Damietta, or Port Said for sea freight; Cairo International (CAI) for air. Reefers are pre-cooled to the product-specific setpoint before stuffing; a GPS temperature data-logger is installed inside the container. Full transit-time reference: Egypt logistics & transit times.
Destination clearance and handover
Buyer's customs broker clears the consignment using the documentation pack. Destination-country phytosanitary inspection opens on arrival. Reefer temperature log is shared post-voyage. Delivery to buyer's warehouse. 48-hour quality-dispute window opens from the moment of delivery — photograph anything that doesn't match spec and notify AFRICAFRESH EXPORT within that window.
Incoterms cheat sheet
| Incoterm | Exporter handles | Buyer handles | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| FOB (Free On Board) | Port loading at Alexandria/Port Said | Ocean freight, insurance, destination handling | GCC buyers; buyers with owned freight forwarders |
| CIF (Cost, Insurance, Freight) | Everything through destination port | Customs clearance, inland transport | Default for European buyers; Central Asian L/C programmes |
| EXW (Ex Works) | Handover at farm gate or packhouse | All Egyptian export logistics and freight | Buyers with in-Egypt logistics teams |
| DAP (Delivered At Place) | Everything to buyer's named delivery point | Only unloading + destination duties | Air freight; short-transit reefer destinations; specialty programmes |
| CFR (Cost and Freight) | Ocean freight to destination port | Marine insurance, destination clearance | Buyers with their own marine insurance policy |
Payment terms in practice
- Letter of Credit (L/C) — dominant for first-time engagements, especially GCC and Central Asia. Typical 120-day sight; confirmed by major Egyptian correspondent banks in Cairo.
- T/T 30/70 — 30% deposit on order confirmation, 70% against shipping documents. Default for 3+ shipment relationships.
- CAD (Cash Against Documents) — mid-volume, established relationships.
- Open account — rare; only for decade-plus partnerships with insurance backing.
Reefer container specs by product
Product-specific temperature, humidity, and shelf-life settings live on each product page. Headline rule: pre-cool product and reefer separately; meet at setpoint; never use the reefer to pull temperature down post-loading — that kills shelf life.