TEHRAN: Iran’s pistachio exports tripled in the first half of the current Iranian calendar year, which began on March 21.
The country exported over 25,200 tons of pistachio worth $208 million in the first six months of the current year, showing 315 percent and 310 percent rise in weight and value, respectively, compared to the same period of time in the previous year.
Iran sold pistachio to 52 countries including Germany, Spain, Italy, Australia, Sweden, Switzerland, Canada, Russia, Ukraine, Serbia, Brazil, Chile, China, Japan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Algeria, Iraq, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates during the six-month period.
On April 17, Ali Mohseni, an official with the Iranian Agriculture Ministry, said that Iran ousted the U.S. as the leading producer of pistachio nuts last year and reclaimed the position which it has long held to its credit.
He said production of the nut surpassed 235,000 tons thanks to satisfactory precipitations and Iran’s implementation of development measures for better yield.
Iran exported 180,262 tons of pistachio worth $1.62 billion last year. Those exports marked a 50% rise both in terms of volume and value, the official added.
The country hopes to raise the worth of its pistachio exports to $2 billion in the current calendar year.
