Sari — Iran’s citrus exports are continuing without interruption, with strong demand from domestic and international markets, Deputy Agriculture Minister Mohammad-Mehdi Boroumandi said.

 

Speaking on the sidelines of a review of citrus and kiwi exports in Mazandaran Province, Boroumandi said the province is a major hub for Iran’s horticultural production, accounting for a significant share of the country’s citrus and kiwi output.

 

He said Iran produced around 6 million tons of citrus last year, with nearly 300,000 tons exported to international markets.

 

“Citrus exports have not stopped this year, and shipments to various destinations, particularly regional markets and neighboring countries, are continuing,” Boroumandi said.

 

He noted that Iran currently produces about 700,000 tons of mandarins annually, of which approximately 400,000 tons are produced in Mazandaran.

 

Iranian mandarins are also in demand across Eurasia and East Asia, as well as in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Russia and Iraq, he said, adding that there are currently no major concerns over export markets for the fruit.

 

Boroumandi urged growers to avoid rushing the mandarin harvest and gradually supply the market in line with prevailing conditions.

 

He said Iran’s domestic market has the capacity to absorb a substantial portion of mandarin production, adding that wholesale prices at Tehran’s fruit and vegetable market are currently broadly consistent with production costs.

 

The deputy agriculture minister also stressed that citrus prices are determined largely by supply and demand, calling for closer oversight of distribution and intermediaries to prevent losses to both producers and consumers.