Tehran - Iran’s pistachio exports surged by 80 percent in 2024, reaching USD 636 million, according to newly released data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

 

The figures show that export revenues rose sharply from approximately USD 353 million in 2023. Export volumes also recorded a significant increase, climbing from 61,000 tons in 2023 to 98,000 tons in 2024.

 

FAO data ranks Iran as the world’s second-largest pistachio exporter in 2024, behind the United States, which exported pistachios worth USD 2.5 billion during the same period. While US exports grew by only 5 percent, Iran’s strong 80 percent expansion substantially narrowed the gap between the two countries in global markets.

 

Turkey ranked third among global exporters, with pistachio exports valued at USD 444 million, reflecting a 40 percent year-on-year increase.

 

On the production side, Iran’s pistachio output rose by 4 percent in 2024 to 316,000 tons, up from 303,000 tons in the previous year, according to Eghtesad Moaser. Despite this growth, Iran ranked as the world’s third-largest pistachio producer in 2024.

 

Turkey, traditionally the third-largest producer, recorded a dramatic 117 percent increase in output, producing 383,000 tons and overtaking Iran to become the world’s second-largest pistachio producer. The United States retained its position as the leading global producer, despite a 26 percent decline in production, with output totaling 498,000 tons in 2024.

 

The report notes that Iran led global pistachio production until 2010, after which it gradually lost ground to the United States. In 2018, Iran slipped to third place for the first time, ceding its second-place position to Turkey, a pattern that reappeared in 2020 and again in 2024 after a four-year interval.

 

Syria and China were the fourth- and fifth-largest pistachio producers in 2024, with production volumes of 83,000 tons and 78,000 tons, respectively.

 

As one of Iran’s most important non-oil export commodities, pistachios play a key role in employment and foreign exchange earnings. Major pistachio-producing provinces include Kerman, Yazd, Semnan, South Khorasan, and Qom.