The Iranian Customs Administration (IRICA) says Iran has exported some 2.5 million tons of agrifood in the first four months of the fiscal year (March 21-July 22).
IRICA deputy chief Mehrdad Jamal Arvanaghi said on Saturday that the country’s exports of agrifood rose by 9% during the period compared to similar period last year despite sanctions facing the country as well as restrictions imposed at borders to curb the coronavirus pandemic.
Jamal Arvanaghi told the IRIB News that that Iran’s agrifood exports had reached a total of $1.7 billion in value terms in the four-month period.
He said that pistachio topped the list of agrifood export items from Iran over the period at $279 million, including $67 million worth of pistachio kernel shipments.
Most of the shipments went to Iraq, China, Afghanistan and the United Arab Emirates, the official said.
Iran exported $147 million worth of watermelon over the period under review, he said, adding that tomato, apple, confectionery, potato, dates and tomato paste had accounted for a bulk of the value of the exports between March and July.
The surge in agrifood exports comes as Iran has continued to struggle under a series of American bans that restrict access to banking services and trade routes.
It also comes despite continued restrictions at borders to control the spread of the coronavirus although some countries have eased restrictions following a successful vaccination campaigns against the disease.
Iran has encouraged increased activity in its agricultural sector in recent years as the country seeks to diversify the economy away from crude revenues targeted by US sanctions.
Agriculture has been among the best performers of the Iranian economy since US bans were imposed in 2018. Recent government figures show that annual output in the sector increased to over 130 million tons this year from just over 90 million tons recorded in 2013.