Tehran - Iran's agricultural exports witnessed a significant 29 percent increase in the Iranian year 1403, which concluded on March 19, 2025, according to a report released by the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA).

 

IRICA further detailed that the volume of exported agricultural products also saw a notable rise, climbing by 11 percent to 7.6 million metric tons compared to the previous year. The total value of these exports reached a substantial $5.2 billion.

 

A breakdown of key export commodities revealed that pistachios were the top earner, generating $1.5 billion in revenue. Following pistachios were tomatoes, with exports valued at $233 million, and dates, which brought in $205 million.

 

In a separate announcement, Hamid Bayat, IRICA’s Director General of Statistics and Data Processing, highlighted the performance of saffron exports. During the same period, Iran exported 214.3 metric tons of saffron, valued at $184.7 million. However, the saffron sector experienced a downturn compared to the previous year, with a four percent decrease in export volume and a 13 percent drop in value.

 

Bayat noted that the United Arab Emirates, Spain, and China emerged as the leading buyers of Iranian saffron in the year 1403, importing $50 million, $40 million, and $30 million worth, respectively. These three nations collectively accounted for 65 percent of the total value of Iran’s saffron exports.

 

Despite the decline, he emphasized that Iranian saffron reached markets in over 50 countries across the globe.