• Egypt secured approval to export citrus to the Dominican Republic from January 1, 2026
• Dominican citrus imports more than tripled to 17,215 tonnes between 2020 and 2024
• Egypt expects orange exports to rise 14.45% to 1.9 million tonnes in 2025/2026

Egypt’s citrus industry obtained approval on January 1, 2026, to export its products to the Dominican Republic, according to a statement published on January 12 by the Egyptian government’s official communications body.

Authorities said negotiations between Egypt’s Agricultural Quarantine Service and its Dominican counterpart enabled market access. The two sides agreed on a joint work plan and technical guidelines to ensure compliance with phytosanitary standards required by the Dominican Republic.

Cairo positioned this development within a broader strategy to expand exportable surpluses, generate foreign currency revenues, and strengthen international competitiveness.

“The Dominican Republic ranks among the leading tourist destinations in the Caribbean islands, which increases demand for agricultural products to meet tourists’ needs for fresh fruits and vegetables,” the statement said. Authorities also noted that citrus demand in the Dominican Republic has increased steadily over the past five years.

Data compiled on the Trade Map platform showed that Dominican citrus imports more than tripled to 17,215 tonnes in 2024 from 5,211 tonnes in 2020. Import spending also more than tripled to $26.6 million over the same period. Peru, the United States, Chile, and Colombia currently dominate this market.

More broadly, Egypt secured access to the Dominican market as the citrus sector anticipates a recovery in exports. In a report published on December 17, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said Egypt plans to place 1.9 million tonnes of oranges on the international market in the 2025/2026 season. This projection would mark a 14.45% increase from 1.66 million tonnes in the previous season, supported by improved production.

Egypt’s citrus exports primarily target the European Union, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom.

Stéphanas Assocle