Egyptian Calendula Prices Stable as Exports Stay Firm
Egyptian calendula FOB prices in Cairo are stable amid strong MAP exports, supportive weather and firm US-bound demand. Short-term outlook: sideways to slightly firmer.
Prices
FOB Cairo quotations for Egyptian calendula remain stable week-on-week:
| Product | Origin | Term | Current price (EUR) | 1-week change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calendula flower, whole, 99% | Egypt | FOB Kairo | 0.94 | 0.00 |
| Calendula petals | Egypt | FOB Kairo | 2.02 | 0.00 |
Compared with early September, whole flowers are marginally higher while petals are flat, pointing to a broadly balanced market with no immediate sign of tightening or discounting pressure.
Supply & Demand
Egypt continues to strengthen its position in high-value agricultural exports, including medicinal and aromatic plants. Recent official statements highlight a national target of 9.5 million tons of agricultural exports in 2026 and an expanding list of export markets and crops, including medical and aromatic plants, which covers calendula among other botanicals.
Trade-flow data for August 2026 show Egypt as the largest exporting country for calendula shipments into the US market, with multiple consignments of dehydrated calendula and calendula-based products dispatched late in the month. This confirms firm external demand and suggests that current price stability is occurring against a backdrop of healthy export volumes rather than weak buying interest.
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Fundamentals
The wider medicinal and aromatic plants sector in Egypt is export oriented and concentrated in Lower and Middle Egypt, where calendula is grown alongside chamomile and other herbs. Sector assessments underline its role as a growing source of foreign currency and employment, with established processing and sterilisation capacity that supports consistent quality for export.
Recent foreign-trade statistics indicate that Egypt’s overall exports rose by more than a third year-on-year in June 2026, supported by strong performance in agri-food categories. Within this environment, processors and exporters of calendula benefit from favourable policy attention and logistics, limiting downside risk from domestic bottlenecks in the near term.
Weather & Crop Conditions (Egypt)
For Cairo and surrounding production and trading areas, the three-day outlook (19–21 September) points to clear, hazy sunshine with daytime highs around 32–33°C and warm nights near 22–23°C. These conditions are supportive for late-season field work, drying, and storage, with no rain-related disruption expected for calendula handling.
With stable weather, supply-side risks in the very short term are low. Any future tightening is more likely to stem from shifts in export demand or competition for raw material with other MAP crops than from immediate climatic stress.
Short-Term Outlook & Trading Ideas
- Price direction (next 1–2 weeks): Sideways for both whole flowers and petals, with a slight upward bias if new export tenders emerge from Europe or North America.
- For buyers: Consider locking in near-term needs at current FOB Cairo levels, especially for higher-value petals, as the cost base is stable and export demand is firm.
- For sellers: Maintain offer discipline on petals; discounting appears unnecessary given Egypt’s strong position in recent US-bound calendula shipments.
- Risk factors: Upside risk from any acceleration in MAP export programs or logistics constraints; downside risk limited unless global demand for herbal ingredients softens abruptly.
3-Day Regional Price Indication
- Cairo FOB – Calendula flower, whole 99%: Prices expected to remain around 0.94 EUR over the next three days, with a flat to slightly firmer tone.
- Cairo FOB – Calendula petals: Prices expected to hold near 2.02 EUR in the coming three days, with stable demand and no weather-related disruptions.