Iran’s pistachio exports rise by 143% in year to March

Iran’s pistachio exports soared by 143 per cent in the calendar year ending March 20, generating US$1.7 billion in revenue, as reported by Press TV, a partner of TV BRICS.

With approximately 650,000 hectares dedicated to pistachio cultivation, the largest area under this crop in the world, total pistachio production in Iran exceeded 300,000 metric tons, reaffirming the nut's status as the country's main horticultural export product, according to the Iranian Ministry of Agriculture.

The Iranian authorities also highlighted an 83 per cent increase in cultivation over the past 11 years, with Kerman province remaining the key production hub. The industry now supports 350,000 direct jobs and typically brings in around US$1.5 billion in foreign currency earnings annually.

Broader agricultural exports from Iran also showed robust growth, reaching US$5.2 billion in the year to March, a 29 per cent increase on the previous year. The government is now expected to capitalise on the momentum by enhancing food safety frameworks, potentially unlocking new opportunities in key international markets.

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