Some 250,000 tons of pistachios are expected to be exported by the end of the current Iranian year (March 19, 2016), according to an official with the Agriculture Ministry’s Horticulture Department, Ramezan Roueintan.
“About 180,000 tons of pistachios were exported last [Iranian] year,” IRNA quoted him as saying, adding that the estimated rise in exports is attributed to an increase in the current year’s production.
According to the head of Dried Fruits and Nut Exporters Union, Mohammad Hassan Shamsfard, up until September, Iran produced 220,000 tons of pistachios, indicating an increase of 20,000 tons compared to last year’s corresponding period.
Iran is the biggest producer of pistachio in the world.
Roueintan noted that 140,000 tons of raisins valued at $500 million are estimated to be exported this year amid a rise in production.
“Based on the estimates, 180,000 tons of raisins will be produced this year, which will be 10,000 tons more than last year,” he said.
Last year, Iran exported 114,000 tons of raisins worth $290 million.
