Egypt was the world’s biggest frozen strawberry exporter in 2019, accounting for 20% of global exports with 140k tonnes exported, according to the local press. Germany imported 24% of Egypt’s total frozen strawberry exports, making it the world’s biggest market for the fruit. Frozen strawberry exports increased by 40% from 2015 to 2019, despite shipments of the fruit from Egypt being linked to an outbreak of hepatitis A in Virginia back in 2016 and the EU putting in place additional inspection requirements. Arab countries such as Saudi Arabia and UAE had also banned importing the fruit altogether over high levels of residual pesticides.