Iran exported 1.86 million tons of fruits and vegetables worth over $675 million during the eight months to November 21, 2017, indicating a 21% rise in value and 13% decline in volume compared to last year’s corresponding period, ISNA reported.
Watermelon topped the list of exports in terms of value earning over $144 million (701,000 tons), up 21% in value and down 0.4% in tonnage year over year.
Tomato exports also saw growth in value by 18% as over 346,000 tons of the crop worth $111 million were exported during the eight months. However, in volume it was down 0.5% YOY.
Potato exports generated $89 million (288,000 tons), up by 31% in value and down by 27.4% in tonnage YOY.
Figures indicate that the current fiscal (ends in March) has not been a good year for export of cucumbers and apples. Cucumber exports witnessed 32% and 39% decline in value and volume YOY to reach 82,000 tons worth $34 million.
About 154,000 tons of apples worth $65 million were exported, indicating 5.7% and 26% decline in value and tonnage respectively YOY.
In the boarder group of 'agricultural and agro processing industries', Iran exported $4 billion worth of products during the eight months under review, according to deputy head of Trade Promotion Organization of Iran, Mahmoud Bazari, registering a 2.7% increase compared with the similar period last year.
“Exports of dairy products, chocolate and confectionary, fruit and vegetables, flowers and plants, seafood and processed products experienced a 31%, 25.7%, 21%, 14.3%, 27% and 11% growth respectively YOY," he said.
The Statistical Center of Iran reported that agricultural production grew by 0.9% during the first half of the current fiscal (March 21-Sept. 22) year-on-year.
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