Iran’s dried fruit exports nearly halted

Iran’s dried fruit exports have almost been halted, head of the Iran Dried Fruit Exporters’ Union, Mohammad Hasan Shamsfard said, ILNA news agency reported.

He went on to note that unstable foreign currency rates, a rise in dried fruit prices and problems due to international sanctions against Iran have almost halted country’s dried fruit exports.

Shamsfard said that dried fruit prices have increased by 20 percent compared to last year due to increasing fruit prices and foreign currency price rises.

Many shippers refuse to ship Iranian cargo, he said, adding that, Iranian exporters have to export their goods to the EU via UAE ports.

Last year, dried fruit exports to the EU decreased by 25 percent compared to previous years, Shamsfard said.

Iran eyes Central Asian and Chinese markets to offset the sales fall, he added.

Later in August, Iranian media outlets quoted Shamsfard as saying Iran exported some $2.30 billions in dried fruits during the last solar year which ended on March 21.

Iran mainly exports pistachios, raisins, and dates. Iran is one of the largest producers of pistachio in the world. Raisins, figs, dates, and barberries are the other major export-bound dried fruits of Iran.