Iran Saffron Exports Top $145m in H1 2018

EghtesadOnline: About 105 tons of saffron worth more than $145 million were exported from Iran during the first half of the current Iranian year, the deputy head of Iran National Saffron Council said.

News ID: ۷۴۶۲۱۷

13 November 2018

The above figures show a 29.6% and 36.8% growth in weight and value respectively compared with the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration’s data for last year’s H1 saffron exports.

Miri said this year’s exports are estimated to increase by 50-60% in value compared with the previous year.

He added that Mashhad, the capital of the northeastern Khorasan Razavi Province, accounts for 90% of Iran’s saffron exports, Financial Tribune reported.

Close to 95% of Iranian saffron are grown in the two provinces of South Khorasan and Khorasan Razavi.

About 236 tons of saffron worth more than $325 million were exported from Iran in the last fiscal year (March 2017-18), indicating a 55% and 56% growth in weight and value respectively compared with the year before.

The volume marked a 10-year record in exports for two consecutive years.

Iran is the world’s biggest saffron producer with over 300 tons of production per year and accounts for more than 90% of global production.

Per capita consumption of saffron in the Middle Eastern country stands at 1 gram. Annually, 80 tons of saffron are consumed domestically.