Iran’s 15 neighboring countries were the destination of 89% of the country’s agricultural and food exports in terms of tonnage during the last Iranian year (March 2021-22), according to a customs expert.
“Iraq alone accounted for 37% of Iran’s total exports,” Rouhollah Latifi was also quoted as saying by IRIB News.
He added that more than 65% of Iran’s imports are agrifood products.
Neighbors imported 7.602 million tons from Iran’s total 8.528 million tons of agrifood exports last year.
Iraq was the biggest importer with 3.238 million tons. Among neighboring countries, Iraq was followed by the UAE with 1.74 million tons, Afghanistan with 832,000 tons, Turkey with 269,000 tons, Azerbaijan with 207,000 tons, Armenia with 81,000 tons, Turkmenistan with 203,000 tons, Russia with 634,000 tons, Pakistan with 507,000 tons, Qatar with 190,000 tons, Oman with 171,000 tons, Kazakhstan with 120,000 tons, Kuwait with 73,000 tons and Bahrain with 3,122 tons. Exports to Saudi Arabia were insignificant.
According to the Agriculture Ministry, Iran exported 8.48 million tons of agricultural and food products worth $5.23 billion in the fiscal 2021-22.
The figures indicate 4.06% decline in tonnage and a 15.84% fall in value year-on-year.
Pistachio topped the list of exports in terms of value with $914.43 million.
Tomato was the second major agricultural export product in terms of value with $384.49 million, followed by dates with $305.23 million, apple with $278.95 million and watermelon with $208.58 million.
In terms of tonnage, apple topped the list with 985,440 tons, watermelon with 902,100 tons, followed by tomato with 824,660 tons, potato with 600,860 tons and onion with 372,690 tons.
Agronomic products accounted for 5.25 million tons worth $1.87 billion of total exports, down 3.26% in terms of tonnage and down 9.97% in terms of value YOY.
Horticultural exports amounted to 2.5 million tons worth $2.53 billion, down 3.89% in terms of tonnage and down 21.02% in value YOY respectively.
Exports of livestock and poultry products reached 581,970 tons worth $561.12 million, down 13.72% in tonnage and 17.12% in value YOY.
The veterinary sector exported 1,090 tons of products worth $10.76 million, up 23.15% and 37.61% in weight and value YOY respectively.
The fisheries sector exported 121,410 tons worth $221.02 million, posting a rise of 9.72% and 5.92% in total volume and value respectively YOY.
Exports from the forest and rangeland sector hit 21,360 tons worth $29.91 million, up 6.16% in tonnage but down 5.73% in value YOY.
Iran exported 8.83 million tons of agricultural and food products worth $6.21 billion in the fiscal 2020-21.
Agrifood imports stood at 31.49 million tons worth $17.9 billion in fiscal 2021-22, indicating a 32.84% and 64.03% YOY growth in volume and value respectively.
Corn had the biggest share of imports in terms of value with $3.37 billion, followed by different edible oils with $2.74 billion, wheat with $2.49 billion, GM soybeans with $1.41 billion and soymeal with $1.27 billion.
In terms of tonnage, feed corn topped imports with 9.74 million tons, followed by wheat with 7.08 million tons, barley with 3.34 million tons, soymeal with 2.34 million tons and GM soybeans with 2.15 million tons.
Agronomic products accounted for 29.81 million tons worth $14.96 billion of total imports, up 32.42% and 70.7% in tonnage and value respectively YOY.
Horticultural products stood at 1.42 million tons worth $1.8 billion, up 38.05% and 39.91% in tonnage and value respectively YOY.
Imports of livestock and poultry products hit 216,720 tons worth $652.38 million, up 115.15% in tonnage and up 46.82% in value YOY.
The veterinary sector imported 5,581 tons worth $400.58 million, up 46.36% and 28.28% in tonnage and value respectively YOY.
Imports by the fisheries sector amounted to 11,460 tons worth $31.94 million, down 41.98% and 32.85% in tonnage and value YOY.
The forest and rangeland sector’s imports totaled 33,090 tons worth $55.42 million, down 28.88% and 4.78% in tonnage and value YOY.
The export and import volumes indicate that Iran recorded an agrifood trade deficit of 23.01 million tons in tonnage and $12.67 billion in value during the period under review.
H1 2022-23 Data
Latest data released by the Agriculture Ministry show Iran exported 3.36 million tons of agricultural and food products worth $1.85 billion during the first six months of the current Iranian year (March 21-Sept. 22).
The figures indicate a decrease of 14.77% in tonnage and 20.33% in value compared to last year's corresponding period.
Watermelon topped the list of exports in terms of value with $161.35 million. Tomato was the second major agricultural export product in terms of value with $144.47 million, followed by pistachio with $128.34 million, saffron with $65.71 million and date with $57.33 million.
In terms of tonnage, again watermelon topped the list with 731,910 tons, tomato with 308,820 tons, followed by Persian melon with 204,400 tons, apple with 159,460 tons and onion, shallot and garlic with 157,180 tons.
Agronomic products accounted for 2.44 million tons worth $815.71 million of total exports, down 9.59% and 12.46% in terms of tonnage and value respectively.
Horticultural exports amounted to 580,020 tons worth $603.720 million, down 34.99% in terms of tonnage and down 42.22% in value respectively.
Exports of livestock and poultry products reached 270,330 tons worth $303.32 million, down 7.98 in tonnage, but up 14.89% in value.
The veterinary sector exported 384 tons of products worth $2.5 million, down 32.31% and 51.76% in weight and value respectively.
The fisheries sector exported 57,840 tons worth $124.33 million, posting a rise of 26.54% and 61.08% in total volume and value respectively.
Exports from the forest and rangeland sector hit 7,590 tons worth $9.83 million, up 6.84% in terms of tonnage, but down 9.25% in terms of value, respectively.
Agrifood imports stood at 10.97 million tons worth $8.22 billion during the six-month period, indicating a 26.04% and a 1.69 decline in weight and value YOY, respectively.
Rice worth $1.26 billion had the biggest share of imports in terms of value, followed by wheat worth $1.19 billion, feed corn worth $1.17 billion, GM soybeans worth $925.23 million and hydrogenated oil worth $858.29 million.
In terms of tonnage, feed corn topped imports with 2.95 million tons, followed by wheat with 2.76 million tons, followed by GM soybeans with 1.16 million tons, rice with 1.05 million tons and unrefined sugar with 580,150 tons.
Agronomic products accounted for 10.21 million tons worth $6.76 billion of total imports, down 27.07% and 3.47% in tonnage and value YOY, respectively.
Horticultural products stood at 656,720 tons worth $997.31 million, down 13.11% in tonnage, but 8.81% in value YOY.
Imports of livestock and poultry products hit 84,040 tons worth $266.65 million, up 45.96% and 34.83% in tonnage and value, respectively.
The veterinary sector imported 2,197 tons worth $148.79 million, down 5.25% and 23.6% in terms of tonnage and value, respectively.
Imports by the fisheries sector amounted to 4,250 tons worth $12.21 million, down 24.92% and 18.66% in tonnage and value respectively.
The forest and rangeland sector's imports totaled 15,130 tons worth $30.41 million, down 13.11% in tonnage, but up 8.81% in value.
The export and import volumes indicate that Iran recorded an agrifood trade deficit of 7.61 million tons in terms of tonnage and $6.36 billion in value during the period under review.
