A total of 23,590 tons of aquatic feed were exported from Iran during the first five months of the current fiscal year (started March 21) to 12 countries, according to Abbas Mokhtari, an official with Agriculture Ministry, said.
Iraq was the biggest destination, as it imported 16,278 tons of the total sum, he added.
"Armenia and Uzbekistan are the biggest customers of Iran’s aquatic feed after Iraq. Exports are expected to increase 20-30% by the end of the year,” the official was quoted as saying by IRNA.
Mokhtari noted that the export of aquatic feed stood at 30,000 tons worth $11.19 million last year.
“Fish used to account for the lion’s share of exports from Iran in the fisheries sector, but now exports have shifted to aquatic feed and baby carp fish,” he said.
“Gilak Daneh Navid Company in Gilan Province exported 40 tons of fish feed to Russia in the month ending Sept. 22 for the first time.”
Noting that only one factory is engaged in the export of aquatic feed in Iran, the official said, “We hope to have as many aquatic feed factories as our 34 food processing plants in the future to meet Russian demand.”
The turnover of agricultural products between Russia and Iran in 2022 may grow by 10-15% compared to the previous year, Russian agricultural watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor quoted the head of the service, Sergey Dankvert, as saying in a recent meeting with Iran's Deputy Minister of Industries, Mining and Trade Alireza Pyemanpak.
According to Dankvert, Iran has increased its presence in the Russian food market since 2019, with Iranian dairy and fish products coming into the Russian market spotlight.
Prices Rise 30-35% After Import Subsidy Removal
The share of Iran Fisheries Organization in Agriculture Ministry’s subsidized inputs was not more than 1-2% per month yet it was a great help to fish feed producers and granted bargaining power over pricing to the organization in its negotiations with producers, Morteza Afrasiabi, an official with the organization, said in May.
“With the removal of this subsidy, Iran’s Fisheries Organization has lost its clout to modify prices,” he was quoted as saying by ILNA.
“Fish feed prices have increased by 30-35%. The consumer prices of fish, particularly cold-water fish that accounts for 90-95% of domestic consumption, has increased. Fish prices have increased from 600,000-700,000 rials ($1.89-$2.21) per kilogram last year [2021-22] to 1-1.1 million rials ($3.15-$3.47) now. Production of fish and other aquatic species is expected to reach 708,000 tons this year [2022-23].”
The sudden price rise came after the government decided to abolish the controversial practice of allocating cheap dollars at the rate of 42,000 rials per dollar, locally known as Preferential Foreign Currency Rate, to import essential food products.
The market value of the dollar is above 300,000 rials now.
The move has led to a dramatic rise in the prices of essential goods.
