Iran exported as much as €111 million worth of pistachio to the European Union in 2012 to become the second biggest exporter of the nut to the 27-nation bloc in the year.
Figures provided by the statistical office of the European Union (Eurostat) show that the EU pistachio imports from Iran have fallen 42% year-on-year, IRNA news agency reported.
Iran had exported as much as €192 million worth of pistachio to the European Union in 2021.
Drought and a consequent reduction in production were among the main factors contributing to the decline in Iran’s pistachio exports to the union.
While Iran exported merely €43 million worth of unshelled pistachio to the European bloc in 2022, the Iranian shelled pistachio is much better sold in the European Union as the country’s exports of shelled pistachio to the bloc hit €68 million in the year.
Germany was the top importer of Iranian pistachio in Europe with €75 million of Iran’s total €111 million worth of pistachio exports to the European Union going to the country.
The United States was the top pistachio exporter to the European Union in the year under review with €756 million of exports which show a 30% YOY rise.