The Trade Promotion Organization of Iran director stated 21 tons of saffron, worth $58.7 million, was exported in the first half of the current Iranian calendar year ended September 22, 2009.
The Islamic Republic of Iran News Network reported Babak Afqahi saying that the smuggling of saffron bulbs, low yield, faulty land ownership systems, bad packaging, and price fluctuations are serious problems facing saffron trade.
He went on to say 95 percent of the world's saffron is produced in Iran, adding that fake saffron has done great damage to the image of saffron for exportation.