Confectionery Exports Earn $600m p.a.

Iran exports about $600 million worth of confectionery annually, the chairman of Iran’s Biscuit, Confectionery and Chocolate Industries Association said.

The Commonwealth of Independent States is among major markets for Iranian chocolate. A limited volume goes to the US, especially to Iranians living in Los Angeles and California.

“The exports are 20 to 24 times as much as those by the domestic auto industry (between $25 million and $30 million) and twice as much as hand-woven carpet exports ($350 million),” Jamshid Maghazei was also quoted as saying by the Persian daily Shahrvand.

According to the official, sweets and chocolates account for 30-40% of Iran’s total food exports.

Based on figures released by the association, per capita biscuit, chocolate and sweets consumption in Iran amounts to 2 kilograms per year. The average figure for European countries stands at around 10 kilograms.

According to Ali Bahremand, the head of Confectioners Union, recession in the domestic market and the decline in people’s purchasing power in recent years have led to a drop in consumption in Iran by 40%.

Close to 50% of Iran’s biscuits and chocolates are produced in the city of Tabriz located in East Azarbaijan Province in northwest Iran.

There are over 850 production units in Tabriz, exporting to more than 50 countries worldwide.