BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 10. Iran's saffron export decreased by 16 percent in volume, over the last Iranian year (March 21, 2022 through March 20, 2023), compared to the preceding year (March 21, 2021 through March 20, 2022), Deputy Chairman of the National Saffron Council of Iran Gholamreza Miri told ISNA, Trend reports.
According to Miri, Iran exported a total of 225 tons of saffron last Iranian year, while in the preceding year, the exports stood at 268 tons.
“The restrictions imposed on the export of saffron in Iran caused an increase in smuggling of saffron to neighboring countries. About 40 percent of the saffron exported last Iranian year was smuggled to neighboring countries,” he said.
The deputy chairman also added that the price of 1 kilogram of saffron in Iran is a maximum of $800. However, according to the price set by Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA), 1 kg of saffron costs $1,283. The exporter has to pay the customs price. That is, if the exporter exports 1 kilogram of saffron for $800, he must buy $483 in foreign currency from the foreign exchange market and pay the government to avoid problems such as the cancellation of the trade card and the ban on the business permit.
“The country's saffron exporters have no interest in working as they have observed that Iranian saffron is being smuggled in world markets at 20-30 percent lower prices. The government should take necessary steps to prevent this. No product is smuggled out of the country more than saffron,” Miri noted.
According to the latest statistics of the IRICA, Iran exported more than 178 tons of saffron worth about $173 million during the first 10 months of the last Iranian year (March 21, 2022 through January 20, 2023).
Iranian saffron was exported saffron to 59 countries, mainly the UAE, Spain, the UK, Italy, the US, Türkiye, Azerbaijan, China, Russia, France, Kazakhstan and other countries.
---
Follow the author on Twitter:@BaghishovElnur