Iran Press/Iran news: The shock caused by the United States' withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) – Iran's nuclear deal – had initially influenced the export market for saffron as any other Iranian products, but shortly after, the Iranian saffron once again regained its status at the export market.
According to Iran Press, customs statistics showed a 55% increase in the export of saffron in terms of weight and a 58% growth in terms of value in the first quarter of this year as compared to the same period last year.
Also, Hossein Sherzad, CEO of the Central Organization for Rural Cooperatives of Iran, referred to the speculations of the organization's Office of Commerce, suggesting an increase in saffron exports by 250 tons worth more than $352 million to the international markets.
Meanwhile, Ali Hosseini, a member of the Saffron National Council, has predicted an increase in Iran's export of saffron this year.
Iran ranks first in the world in terms of production of saffron accounting for 88 percent of the global output
Iran has introduced saffron to the stock exchange in a bid to maintain the interests of producers and increase the country’s exports capacity.
According to officials, Iran ranks first in the world in terms of production of saffron accounting for 88 percent of the global output, therefore it should be enjoying the absolute right to create a global stock exchange for the product to be able to set the price.
CEO of the Central Organization for Rural Cooperatives of Iran, Ali Osat Hashemi, said the country could be in charge of controlling and fixing prices for saffron and prevent its exports whenever necessary.
Iran is currently exporting saffron to 50 out of 180 countries in the world, according to officials who urged government and private sector to seek fresh markets for Iranian saffron.
“Saffron should be priced logically within the framework of rules and regulations in order to get lion’s share of the target markets,” he said.
Customs statistics showed a 55% increase in the export of saffron in the first quarter of this year
The first round of American sanctions took effect in August, targeting Iran's access to the US dollar, metals trading, coal, industrial software, and auto sector.
The second round of sanctions, aimed at Iran's oil industry, came into effect on November 5.
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But the saffron-exporting sector believes it is virtually sanction-proof and some think the sanctions may have even been good for the business.
At a conference of industry experts hosted by the University of Torbat Heydarieh, one saffron trader argued, “We’re the main producer and exporter of saffron in the world, there’s no alternative … By legal or illegal means, we’re certain our products will be exported.”
Iranian saffron traders consider the US sanctions imposed on Iran as a buyers' problem, noting that their saffron, used in everything from perfumes to medicine, even sells for more now. 101/206
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