Al-Amal Crops exports 6,000 tonnes agriculture crops in 8 months: deputy chairperson

Increase in US dollar price led to decline in exports, change in product prices, says Shehata

Al-Amal Crops exported approximately 6,000 tonnes of legumes, dates, and herbs in the first eight months of 2016.
Deputy chairperson of the company, Emad Shehata, said that they are seeking to export 6,000 tonnes of rice, white kidney beans, dates, sesame, beans, coriander, and caraway.
He added that the company's exports retreated this year to 40,000 tonnes of agriculture crops, compared to larger amounts last year, as a result of the changing exchange rate of the US dollar against the Egyptian pound and the fluctuation in prices.
Shehata also said that the company expanded its exports this year into new markets, including Palestine, Lebanon, and Sri Lanka. In addition, it increased the amounts exported to Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Libya, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan, Qatar, Syria, Malaysia, Indonesia, Turkey, Spain, Bulgaria, Belgium, Greece, Serbia, Romania, and Pakistan. The company imports products of cumin, pepper, turmeric, and lentils from India, Turkey, and Syria and supplies them to the Egyptian market.
Al-Amal Crops owns two factories for packing agriculture crops and dates in Damanhour in Beheira, one of which is specialised in packing agriculture crops and legumes and produces approximately 350 tonnes daily, while the other is specialised in packing and exporting Egyptian dates. The latter is on an area of 25,000 sqm and produces 50 tonnes daily.
He noted that the company is intending to establish three new companies this year under the names of the Egyptian Company for Cooling, Al-Amal for Manufacturing and Packing Food, and International Golden Food. Moreover, the company has decided to establish two factories: the first is for cooling and freezing on an area of 27,000 sqmand is affiliated to the Egyptian Company for Cooling, while the second is on an area of 32,500 sqm and is affiliated with International Golden Food.
Shehata said that the new factories will be on an area of 32,500 sqm with a target production capacity of 450-500 tonnes daily.
The company is targeting to increase its sales size internally and externally through increasing its distribution channels and participating in local and international exhibitions, in addition to communicating with customers to learn about their needs and how satisfied they are with the products' quality. These steps aim to allow the company to reach a higher level of competitiveness with the companies operating in the same field, according to Shehata.
The company annually participates in a number of international exhibitions specialised in agriculture crops and food industries with the aim of gaining more of the market share, such as Anuga, SIAL, and Gulfood held annually in Germany, France, and Dubai.