TEHRAN (Iran News) – 70 tons of Iran’s saffron export, valued at $78 million during the first five months of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21-August 22), according to an official in the Ministry of Agriculture. The delicate purple leaves of the Crocus sativus plant hold just three or four of the even more […]
TEHRAN (Iran News) – 70 tons of Iran’s saffron export, valued at $78 million during the first five months of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21-August 22), according to an official in the Ministry of Agriculture.
The delicate purple leaves of the Crocus sativus plant hold just three or four of the even more delicate red stamen, better known as saffron, that sprouts for just 10 days a year.
These tiny filaments are currently selling in local markets for 90 million rials per kilo — about $700 on Iran´s volatile exchanges — and perhaps four times higher abroad.
The government says more than 90 percent of the world´s saffron grows from the hard soil in Khorasan province of northeastern Iran.
Hossein Zeinali, the director for the ministry’s plan of medical herbs, said the product has been exported to 40 countries and Spain, Vietnam, Qatar and United Arab Emirates were the major export destinations, IRNA reported.
Earlier this year, Iran exported 40 tons of saffron during the first three months of the current Iranian year (March 21-June 21) to witness a decline of 15% compared with last year’s corresponding period.
According to Ali Hosseini, a member of Iran’s National Saffron Council, the price of Iranian saffron on global market currently stands at €700-1,000 per kilogram, ILNA reported.
The price range indicates that Iran’s saffron exports were worth €28-40 million in Q1.
Iran is the world’s biggest producer of saffron and accounts for more than 90% of global production.
- source : financial tribune, irannews
