Europe Top Destination of Iran's H1 Pistachio Exports

A total of US$128.34 million worth of pistachio were exported from Iran during the current fiscal year’s first six months (March 21-Sept. 22), according to the Agriculture Ministry. Europe is the top destination of Iranian pistachio, as €78.6 million worth of the delicacy were exported during the first half of 2022, Eurostat database shows.

Exports of in-shell pistachio stood at €31.6 million during the period, registering a 53% year-on-year decrease, while those of shelled pistachio stood at €47 million to register a 23% YOY rise, IRNA reported. Germany and Italy were the main destinations for Iranian pistachio among EU members.

Iran exported a total of €50 million of the nut to Germany and €14 million to Italy in H1 2022. According to IRNA, after the US, Iran was the second largest exporter of pistachios to the EU region in the first half of this year. The US pistachio exports to EU members hit €276 million during the period, registering a 4% year-on-year decline.

Exports of shelled pistachio from the US to EU stood at €34 million in H1. Iran and the US are the world’s biggest producers of pistachio. The US output has overtaken Iran’s in recent years, partly because of drought in Iran, although the quality of the Iranian crop is widely said to be superior to that of the US. - Financial Tribune