Analysis of the Competitiveness of Egyptian Frozen Strawberry Exports in Major Global Markets

This Despite Egypt’s substantial production capacity, its frozen strawberry exports face intense competition in major international markets from key competitors such as Poland, Belgium, China, Morocco, and the United States. This strong competition makes Egyptian exports highly vulnerable to fluctuations in relative prices, exposing them to the risk of significant losses in market share whenever export prices rise compared to those of competing countries. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the competitive position of Egyptian frozen strawberry exports in major import markets (Germany, New Zealand, Poland, and Japan), estimate the elasticity of substitution between Egypt and its main competitors, and identify the key economic factors affecting export demand. Using the Substitution Elasticity Model and the Market Share Model, the results indicate that Poland, Belgium, and China are Egypt’s main competitors in the German market, while Poland is the primary competitor in New Zealand and Morocco is the strongest competitor in the Polish market. In Japan, China and Morocco emerge as the leading competitors. Demand for Egyptian frozen strawberries is highly price-elastic in Germany, New Zealand, and Poland, implying that reducing export prices is an effective strategy for expanding market share. In contrast, demand in the Japanese market is relatively less price-elastic, suggesting that non-price factors, such as quality standards and product specifications, play a more important role in maintaining market share. Furthermore, the Gravity Model reveals that the gross domestic product (GDP) of both Egypt and the importing countries has a strong positive effect on export volumes. Geographical distance, on the other hand, negatively affects trade in the basic model,