Iran's pistachio industry brought in a cool $1 billion last year, according to an official with the Iran Pistachio Association. 

 

Jalil Karbakhsh said last year over 200,000 tons of pistachio were produced in the country of which about 120,000 tons were exported.

 

However, there's a mixed bag when it comes to export destinations. While Iran remained the second-largest supplier of pistachios to the European Union in 2023, overall exports to the bloc dipped by 17% compared to the previous year. This translates to a decline from €111 million in 2022 to €92 million in 2023.

 

Germany emerged as the top European buyer of Iranian pistachios, importing €49 million worth. Italy and Spain followed at a distance, with €7 million and €5 million respectively.

 

The data also reveals a shift in the types of pistachios exported to Europe. While pistachio nut exports saw a minor 4% decrease, shelled pistachio exports took a bigger hit, dropping by 37% year-over-year.