Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec.17 /Trend F.Milad/
Iran is the world's eleventh largest grape producer and third raisin exporter, the ISNA News Agency reported.
Iran annually produces some three million tons of grapes out of the world's total 68 million tons. Italy with 8.5 million tons is the world's largest grape producer.
Iran exported over $313 million worth of fresh grapes and raisin to 70 countries in the past calendar year which ended on March 19.
The ISNA News Agency reported that exports of grapes fell by eight per cent year on year.
Imports of grapes also hit $663 million last year, showing a 65 per cent decrease compared to the preceding year.
USA, Turkey, Ukraine and Russia were the main importers of Iranian grapes. Over $382,000 worth of exports were destined to the U.S., the report added.
Iran's fruit exports value is expected to reach two billion dollars in the current calendar year.
Iran exported over 1.131 billion dollars' worth of agricultural products in the previous calendar year.
Iran is the Middle East and North Africa's greatest producer of garden products and ranks ninth in the world.
Iran has been ranked between eighth and tenth in global fruit production in different years. In the production of pomegranates and pistachios Iran ranks first, in dates and cherries third, fourth in the production of apples and walnuts and seventh in producing citrus fruits.
Fifty kinds of fruits are grown in Iran. The record for pomegranate production is 100 tons in a hectare of land, 146 ton for apples and 70 tons for oranges.