Saffron Industry Suffering From Low-Quality Export |
|
Network this!
Text Size 
Mashhad, Khorasan Razavi - Clandestine packaging and low-quality saffron exports in the form of luggage trade have been detrimental to the international status of Persian saffron, said a top industry official here on Saturday.
Ali Shariati-Moqaddam, who heads the Khorasan Saffron Exporters Association, told ISNA that the heavy dependence of saffron business on Spain and United Arab Emirates (UAE) as well as the emergence of new regional rivals such as Afghanistan and China have added to the challenges facing the lucrative industry in Iran.
He further noted that the major regional markets for Iranian saffron, including India and Pakistan, import low-quality saffron because of the high tariffs. "Afghanistan will soon begin exporting saffron to regional countries at the lowest costs," he said, adding that the Iranian saffron industry is now at its most sensitive juncture. The official added that the saffron industry has created jobs for half a million people in the northeastern Khorasan region, stressing the need to seize the opportunities to keep the industry alive. He called for the international sales of Persian saffron under a unified trademark as well as greater cooperation between Saffron Exporters Association and relevant state organizations.
Spain processes and re-exports some 40-50 percent of Iran's total saffron production. The European country produces only 1-2 tons of saffron per annum, while Iran's saffron output stands at 120-140 tons a year. Experts have repeatedly warned that Iran is losing its high status in the world saffron market. Saffron bulbs have been smuggled to Afghanistan, where the spice is also produced, making the situation even more difficult for Iran.
Some 172 tons of saffron worth $94.9 million was exported during March 2004-2005. Saffron exports in the year to March 2005 showed a 42.6-percent increase in value and 24 percent rise in volume against figures for the corresponding period the previous year. United Arab Emirates (UAE) was the largest customer with a total purchase of 78.8 tons of saffron worth $41.5 million. Spain was the second largest with 56.4 tons worth $31 million.
© Iran Daily 2005
Community Comments (0) - 
Comment on this article 
Comment on this article
The opinions of the authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect Zawya. Read our Comment Policy.
Loading ...
Zawya Comment Policy:
-
Zawya encourages you to add a comment to this discussion. You agree that when you add content to this discussion your comments will not:
1.1 Contain any material which is libelous or defamatory of any person, is obscene, offensive, hateful or inflammatory or causes damage to the reputation of any person or organisation.
1.2 Promote sexually explicit material, violence, discrimination based on race, sex, religion, nationality, disability, sexual orientation or age or any illegal activity.
1.3 Be made in breach of any legal duty owed to a third party, such as a contractual duty or a duty of confidence.
1.4 Be threatening, abuse or invade another's privacy, or cause annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety.
1.5 Be used to impersonate any person, to misrepresent your identity or affiliation with any person, or be likely to deceive any person.
1.6 Give the impression that they represent Zawya.
1.7 Advocate, promote or assist any unlawful act such as (by way of example only) copyright infringement or computer misuse. - The content posted on www.zawya.com is created by members of the public. The views expressed are theirs and unless specifically stated are not those of Zawya. Zawya reserves the right to review all comments prior to posting and edit or delete any contribution, but Zawya is not responsible for and can not be held liable for any content posted by members of the public on www.zawya.com.
- Zawya is not responsible for the availability or content of any third party sites that are accessible through www.zawya.com. Any links to third party websites from www.zawya.com do not amount to any endorsement of that site by Zawya and any use of that site by you is at your own risk.
- By submitting your comment, you hereby give Zawya the right, but not the obligation, to post, air, edit, exhibit, telecast, webcast, re-use, publish, reproduce, use, license, print, distribute or otherwise use your comments worldwide, in perpetuity.
Post Your Tender Notices for FREE
(No Sign-in Required)
Zawya Tenders is a Tender Notices service entirely driven by contribution
from issuers in both public and private sectors. It is not an e-tendering service and is entirely FREE.
As an Issuer, you can benefit from posting an unlimited number of Tender
Notices for FREE and reaching out to an online community of bidders.
The service also offers you a tool to track the interest of bidders to your
tenders 'live' online.
from issuers in both public and private sectors. It is not an e-tendering service and is entirely FREE.
As an Issuer, you can benefit from posting an unlimited number of Tender
Notices for FREE and reaching out to an online community of bidders.
The service also offers you a tool to track the interest of bidders to your
tenders 'live' online.
| Tender Notice | Due Date |
Community Buzz
Stories
Companies
Most viewed companies by Community in the last 24 hrs
| Company Name | Country | Industry |
| Consolidated Contractors Company | Overseas | Construction and Design |
| Saudi Binladin Group | Saudi Arabia | Construction and Design |
| Saudi Electricity Company | Saudi Arabia | Electric Utilities |
| Saudi Telecom | Saudi Arabia | Telecommunications Services |
| Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority | UAE | Electric Utilities |
| Emirates Telecommunications Corporation | UAE | Telecommunications Services |
| Emirates Aluminium Company | UAE | Metal Production |
| Commercial International Bank (Egypt) | Egypt | Banking |
| Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation | Qatar | Electric Utilities |
| Al Azizia Panda United Company | Saudi Arabia | General Retailers |
Projects
Most viewed projects by Community in the last 24 hrs
| Project Name | Country | Sector |
| Takreer - Ruwais Refinery Expansion | UAE | Oil and Gas |
| Al Futtaim Carillion - Marina Hotel (Yas Island) | UAE | Real Estate |
| Emirates Aluminium (EMAL) - Smelter Complex - Phase 1 | UAE | Industry |
| Abu Dhabi DOT - Abu Dhabi Metro | UAE | Infrastructure |
| ENEC - Nuclear Power Plant | UAE | Power and Water |
| SATORP - Jubail Refinery and Petrochemical Complex | Saudi Arabia | Oil and Gas |
| Dubai RTA - Dubai Metro | UAE | Infrastructure |
| Al Safwa - Jeddah Cement Plant | Saudi Arabia | Industry |
| Qatar Bahrain Causeway Foundation - Qatar Bahrain Causeway | Bahrain | Infrastructure |
| Qatar Bahrain Causeway Foundation - Qatar Bahrain Causeway | Qatar | Infrastructure |