Tehran - Iran’s shrimp industry has generated more than $1.2 billion in foreign exchange earnings over the past decade while contributing to rural livelihoods and employment, underscoring its growing role in the national economy, according to an analysis released by the Iran Fisheries Organization.

 

The report, prepared by Ali Akbar Khodaei, Secretary-General of the Union of Aquatic Products Production and Trade, shows that shrimp output increased from 17,795 metric tons in 2015 (1394 in the Iranian calendar) to a peak of 60,631 tons in 2022.

 

Production declined sharply in 2023 and 2024 following outbreaks of Acute Hepatopancreatic Necrosis Disease (AHPND) in Bushehr and Hormozgan provinces. However, output this year is forecast to exceed 61,000 tons, potentially the highest level on record, driven primarily by expanded production in Bushehr Province.

 

On the export front, the easing of administrative and quarantine restrictions with Russia and China has been a key driver of growth. Russia has emerged as Iran’s largest export destination, accounting for 58.5% of shipments in 2024, while the United Arab Emirates remains the second-largest market.

 

The industry recorded its highest annual foreign currency revenue in 2021, reaching $182.7 million.

 

The analysis concludes that sustaining income growth will require careful environmental management and wider adoption of super-intensive production methods to address emerging sectoral challenges.