Ghabbour Farms has announced ambitious plans to become the country’s largest citrus exporter.

The exporter, which also works with peaches, nectarines, pomegranates and grapes, among others, is to build a new citrus packhouse to open in 2011 as it looks to export more than 100,000 tonnes for the first time.

Managing director Kamal Ghabbour told FPJ it will be bought next to the company’s existing packhouse in the desert between Cairo and Alexandria.

He said: “We have studied the market and we have found a number of companies exporting around 60,000-80,000t and we want to be bigger than that. We have worked extremely hard in the last year and are very ambitious - you have to reach for the skies.”

On the Egyptian grape offer, sales and marketing director Hassan Zaher said: “The market started very strong this year with some airfreight. The market was looking for any grapes it could find and we were pleased with such conditions, as quality and prices were fantastic."

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