TEHRAN (Iran News) – Chairman of National Union of Agricultural Products of Iran says some of Iran’s agro products which were exported to Moldova via Ukraine border have come to a halt due the current war between Russia and Ukraine.
Speaking to ILNA, Reza Noorani pointed to the prolongation of war between Russia and Ukraine, adding that safety of the Moscow-bound land and sea routes is guaranteed and exports to Russia continue but since Russia is one side of the war and during the war the safety of the routes decreases, the trend of exports progresses sluggishly.
He pointed to the devaluation of Russian currency rouble as the main factor in slowing down the pace of exports to Russia, adding that this point has increased heavy pressures to exporters because Russian traders never buy at cash and exporters get their money in 45 days and therefore exporters make no considerable profit.
Noorani pointed to the halt in exports of agro products to Russia, saying that some part of Iran’s agro products is exported to Moldova via Ukraine borders and the breakout of the war in Ukraine has led to a halt in exports to Moldova.
Touching upon Iranian exported products to Russia, he said that greenhouse products like bell pepper, tomato and fruits like kiwi and apple are exported to Russia.
Meanwhile Head of Iran Greenhouse Manufacturers Association Mr. Abdolrahman Hosseinifard said that the Russia-Ukraine war is to the benefit of fruits and vegetables exporters of Iran, adding that after the war broke out in Ukraine, countries in the world imposed heavy sanctions on Russia and the country is under economic pressure.
He added that Iran has not sanctioned Russia and it is among countries which have taken advantage of this opportunity and has increased its agro products to Russia and the war has increased Iran’s exports to Russia.
He went on to say that currently Iran has no more products for exports, adding that after return of Iran’s bell pepper from Russia, many producers closed their production unit or destroyed their products and therefore there is not so much products to be exported.
Hosseinifard went on to say that now Russians are demanding every type of Iranian fruits and vegetables, adding that products like tomato, cucumber, bell pepper, lettuce and cabbage and eggplant are exported to Russia.
He went on to say that devaluation of rouble has led to the rise in the price of exported agro products to Russia, adding that war has led to the rise in the price of vegetables in Russia.
He went on to say that vegetables and greenhouse products earn the country some $800m annually and this figure ca increase.
Russia is one of the major destinations for Iran’s vegetables but recently Russians have returned exported Iranian bell pepper due to the health issues but it is now said that the problem has been resolved and Iranians can export bell pepper to Russia.
