Azerbaijan, Baku, Nov.2/ Trend F.Karimov/
Pistachio exports from Iran's Kerman province dropped by $100 million in the first seven months of the current Iranian calendar year (ended on October 22) compared to the same period last year, ISNA quoted Kerman province's industry, mines, and trade department director, Amin Ghaffarinejad as saying on Nov. 2.
The exports amounted to $258 million in the 7-month period, he said, adding that this figure accounted for 70 per cent of the province's total exports.
Problems related to money transfer and high transportation costs are the main causes of the drop in pistachio exports, he noted.
In October, ISNA quoted Iran's Fars province agriculture department director Mehrzad Kherad as saying that Iran earns $1 billion annually through exporting pistachios.
Some 18 per cent of the farmlands across the country are under cultivation of pistachios, he added.
Iran holds a 60 per cent share of pistachio exports in the world, he said.
Pistachio farming has created over 300,000 jobs in the country, he noted.
Iran may lose its stance as world's largest pistachio exporter in the near future, head of Iran's Nuts and Dried Fruits Sellers Union said.
"Iran's pistachio exports have faced 20-30 per cent decrease due to forex prices fluctuations," the ISNA News Agency quoted Mostafa Ahmadi as saying.
"The USA will take Iran's position as the world's biggest pistachio exporter unless Iran increases its production," he said.
"Domestic consumption accounts for 20 per cent of Iran's total output, while the figure is around 40-50 per cent in the USA," Ahmadi added.