Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 8
By Umid Niayesh - Trend:
Iran exported over $86.325 million worth of saffron in the first half of the current Iranian fiscal year (March 21 - September 22), the head of Iran's Union of Sellers and Exporters of Saffron, Gholamreza Miri said.
The Islamic Republic exported over 60 metric tons of saffron in the mentioned six-month period, Miri said, the country's Fars news agency reported Nov. 8.
The figures indicate 36 percent increase in terms of volume and value compared to the same months of previous year.
The United Arab Emirates, Spain, China and Saudi Arabia were the main importers of Iranian saffron, Miri said, adding the Islamic Republic exports saffron to 48 countries around the world.
Iran's total saffron output during the current fiscal year (to end on March 20, 2015) is expected to reach 300 metric tons.
The Islamic Republic currently exports 75 percent of its total saffron output.
The country exported some 136.6 metric tons of saffron, worth $200.2 million during the last fiscal year (ended on March 21).
The Iranian administration has developed a plan for raising the annual saffron output to 500 metric tons by 2021. The plan has envisaged boosting exports to over $1 billion by 2021.