PISTACHIO
IRAN: Iran exports over 90% of its pistachios
Over 90 percent of Iran’s pistachios are exported, said a member of the Parliament’s Plan and Budget Committee. Shahbaz Hassanpour Biglari told Iran Daily that the recent hike in foreign exchange rate has made Iran’s pistachio export more profitable and has encouraged exporters to get involved in the business.
Thanks to the efforts of Iranian traders, pistachios have gained the biggest share in the global market, he added pointing out that the valuable crop is well-known as an example of high-quality Iranian products.
Biglari, who represents Sirjan in the Parliament, underlined that the quality of pistachios cultivated in Kerman, Sirjan, and Rafsanjan in Kerman Province is the best in Iran and the world.
The MP said Iran’s pistachios have failed to actual price due to their sale under various names in international markets.
Biglari said that effective steps have been taken to meet global standards in packaging in recent years.
(Quoted from Iran Daily 12- 03 -2019)News of March 2019
ALMOND
USA: The California Almond Board has released the February Almond Position
The Almond Board of California has released the February Almond Position Report with shipments of +186.9 million pounds compared to 190.1 million pounds last year for a decrease of 1.7% percent.
Export Shipments: +128.54 million pounds -5.7%
The crop year-to-date shipments from August through February are at 1.403 billion pounds compared to 1.422 billion pounds last year for a decrease of 1.29 percent. For the past four weeks, all eyes have been on the Almond Bloom in California. The weather was less than ideal, with cooler temperatures and heavy rainfall occurring. The cold weather prolonged the bloom by at least an extra week in some parts of the valley. Heavy rains delayed the bloom as well. The Northern part of the State was impacted the most with limited Bee Flight Hours while the Southern part of the State to a lesser degree. Keep in mind the Independence Variety does not require any bees for pollination. During the month of February, the overall market had steady activity as buyers were waiting to see the results of the bloom and growers were concerned with selling while the bloom received too much rain and cool weather. Prices on Stds and small Cal SSR all climbed upward. Limited new crop demand/ sales took place as well. (Quoted from Chelmersfood News 12 March 2019)
RAISIN
USA: Sun-Maid Marketing plan to increase demand for California raisin
The California raisin industry maintains its reputation for producing the highest quality raisins in the world; however, they are no longer the highest-yielding raisin community in the world. The dynamics of raisin marketing also need to evolve with changing economic as well as consumer trends. Sun-Maid CEO Harry Overly addressed this at their Annual Meeting and shared Sun-Maid’s plans to increase the demand for California raisins. Watch this interview with Overly and read more about it in the coming issue of American Vineyard Magazine. (Quoted from Calfornia Agnet 9 March 2019).
DATE
IRAN: Iran’s export of different types of data grows 53% in 10 months
In its latest report, the Trade Promotion Organization of Iran (TPOI) announced that the export of various types of data registered a 53 percent growth in a 10-month period of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21 – Jan. 21) as compared to the last year’s corresponding period.
Mahmoud Bazari, the Director General of the Exports Coordination Office at TPOI for Agro Crops and Processing Industries’ Products, made the remark on Tuesday, adding “Statistics showed that Iran has exported 249,000 tons of fresh dates, valued at $258 million, which shows a 27 and 53 percent growth in terms of weight and value respectively.”
He went on to say that the country exported 196,000 tons of fresh dates, valued at $186 million, in 10 months of the previous Iranian calendar year (March 21, 2017 – Jan. 21, 2018).
More than $284 million worth of Iranian fresh dates were exported to five main target countries including India, Pakistan, Iraq, Kazakhstan, and Turkey, showing a significant 53 percent hike as compared to last year’s corresponding period, he added.
With purchasing more than $43 million worth of fresh dates, India claimed the first place in terms of importing this product from Iran, followed by Pakistan and Kazakhstan. (Quoted from MehrNews 6- March -2019)News of March 2019
SAFFRON
IRAN: Saffron price hits $2600 per Kg in current Iranian year
Gholamreza Miri, the deputy head of the National Council of Saffron, announced a 15% increase in saffron production in the previous Iranian year, saying the price has stabilized in the market due to the balance between supply and demand.
Iran exported more than 380 tons of saffron the year before, which shows a 15% growth compared with the figure in the corresponding period last year, which was 350, he noted.
Chief Executive of the Central Organization for Rural Cooperatives of Iran Hossein Shirzad said in November 2018, that the Islamic Republic of Iran accounts for 96 percent share of saffron exports in the world during the last year (concluded March 20, 2018).
The main export destinations for Iranian saffron are Greece, Spain, the UAE, Italy, the US, India, Azerbaijan, Morocco and France. (Quoted from MehrNewst 06-03-2019).News of March 2019
