Iran exported 21,720 tons of pistachio worth $154.12 million during the first quarter of the current Iranian year (March 20-June 20) with China, Germany and Iraq as top destinations.
Iranian pistachios were shipped to 54 countries in spring, with China topping the list with 5,547 tons worth $35.4 million, Fars News Agency quoted Rouhollah Latifi, spokesman of the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration as saying.
China was followed by Germany, Iraq and Russia with 2,982, 1,866 and 1,455 tons of imports respectively, he added.
In fact, pistachio topped the list of Iran's agricultural and food export products during the three months under review in terms of value.
Iran exported more than 2 million tons of agrifood products worth over $1.25 billion in Q1, registering a 16.29% rise in tonnage, but 3.69% decline in value compared with last year’s corresponding period, according to Agriculture Ministry.
The map shows pistachio production areas is Iran
According to Latifi, Iran was the world’s second largest exporter of pistachio in 2019 with $586 million, after the US with $1.56 billion.
Iran’s annual domestic demand for pistachio amounts to between 35,000 and 45,000 tons, accounting for 20% of the total output. On average, Iran exports 80% of its total pistachio yields.
According to Iran's Agriculture Ministry, agricultural and food products accounted for more than 20% of the country's total non-oil exports during the first two months of the current Iranian year (March 20-May 20).