TEHRAN (Iran News) – Iran exported 21,720 tons of pistachio worth over $154.1 million during the first three months of the current Iranian year (March 20-June 20), announced the spokesman of Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA).
Rouhollah Latifi said on Wednesday that China was the first destination for exported Iranian pistachio during the said period, with 5,547 tons ($35.4 million), followed by Germany, with 2,982 tons, Iraq with 1,866 tons, Russia 1,455 tons and Kazakhstan with 1,129 tons, respectively.
He noted that last year, Iran was the second exporter of pistachios in the world with $586 million, while the US, with $1.56 billion in exports, was at the top.
The global pistachio market is dominated by Iran and the US, two countries in stiff competition to gain a bigger share of the market, said the head of Iran Pistachio Association in December 2019.
Mahmoud Abtahi told Iran Daily that Italy, Greece, Afghanistan, Syria, and Turkey are also among the main players in the world pistachio market.
Abtahi noted that Iran exports about 80 percent of its pistachio harvest, adding that the price of the product in the local market is determined by its global price as well as its supply and demand.
The official referred to the 100-year history of Iran’s pistachio exports, and said, “We export pistachios to almost all countries, both directly and indirectly.”
Abtahi said that dried fruits are among the country’s most important non-oil exports, of which the share of pistachios is 70 percent.
The official cited Kerman, Khorasan Razavi, and Yazd as the provinces with the highest number of pistachio orchards in the country.
- source : Iran Daily, Irannews
