12 January 2011
Iran has exported about 68 tons of saffron in the first nine months of the current Iranian year (started March 21, 2010), Chief of the Union of Sellers and Exporters of Saffron Gholam Reza Miri said.
Announcing the above, Miri predicted that exports in the sector would witness a considerable increase to reach 90 tons by the yearend, IRIB reported.
Iran exported about 58 tons and 353 kg of the precious spice two years ago, the official said, adding the figure reached 57 tons and 408 kg last year.
He went on to say that in past years the price of exported saffron was $2,300 to $3,200 per kg which had a negative effect on the country's share in the global market, but by reducing the price to $1500 to $1900 per kg, Iran managed to increase its share.
Iran exports saffron to 46 countries including European and Persian Gulf regional countries, he said, noting that about 95 percent of the world's saffron is produced in the country.
National Brand
National brand for Iranian Saffron and date would be registered by the end of the current Iranian year, the Director of the Export Promotion Office of the Trade Promotion Organization of Iran (TPO) Mehrdad Jalalipour said.
"Considering the importance of brand in product's durability in domestic and global markets and to protect consumer rights, a working group was established by TPO," Jalalipour added.
Pointing to the presence of representatives of some organizations such as Ministries of Justice, Agriculture, Industries and Mines, and Chamber of Commerce in the working group, he said the working group is formed to help improve the policy making, planning, supervision and organizing, and implementation of strategic programs in the sector.
Earlier, Secretary of National Saffron Council Farshid Manouchehri told Iran Daily that national brand for Iranian Saffron would be registered across 43 nations.
Once the final stages are completed, the exporters can print the proposed brand on their products, he pointed out.
He named the launch of national saffron website as the future plan of National Saffron Council. Those interested can get comprehensive information on saffron, cheating ways, and weekly prices of crop via visiting the website.
He announced that saffron commodity bank would be launched soon, explaining that the proposed bank would help production and export of the crop.
In addition, it will support farmers in case of reduction in saffron price and prevent price fluctuation, he said.
Saffron Bourse
Earlier in late December, head of the Majlis Agricultural Commission, Mohammad Ali Delavar, said once saffron being accepted in Iran Mercantile Exchange, the price of saffron will be determined in the Agricultural Bourse Hall and in compliance with global prices.
"With the entry of saffron to the mercantile exchange, it seems that the price of this valuable product would be determined in a stable and sustainable manner," said Delavar.
"Price of saffron in countries like Spain is declared on a global basis. Now Iran can also declare global prices for saffron and be more influential in determining the market's prices," he told IANA.
Iran is considered one of top saffron producers worldwide. Due to its diverse climate and fertile soil, Iran's agriculture products are rated among the best in the world with its saffron being second to none.
While saffron is planted in many regions of the country, including the southeast, Khorasan Razavi province ranks first in the country in terms of saffron production with 78 percent of land under plantation producing about 150 tons of the red gold. South Khorasan province ranks second nationwide with 12,000 hectares of area under plantation equivalent to 41 tons.
Iran has exported about 68 tons of saffron in the first nine months of the current Iranian year (started March 21, 2010), Chief of the Union of Sellers and Exporters of Saffron Gholam Reza Miri said.
Announcing the above, Miri predicted that exports in the sector would witness a considerable increase to reach 90 tons by the yearend, IRIB reported.
Iran exported about 58 tons and 353 kg of the precious spice two years ago, the official said, adding the figure reached 57 tons and 408 kg last year.
He went on to say that in past years the price of exported saffron was $2,300 to $3,200 per kg which had a negative effect on the country's share in the global market, but by reducing the price to $1500 to $1900 per kg, Iran managed to increase its share.
Iran exports saffron to 46 countries including European and Persian Gulf regional countries, he said, noting that about 95 percent of the world's saffron is produced in the country.
National Brand
National brand for Iranian Saffron and date would be registered by the end of the current Iranian year, the Director of the Export Promotion Office of the Trade Promotion Organization of Iran (TPO) Mehrdad Jalalipour said.
"Considering the importance of brand in product's durability in domestic and global markets and to protect consumer rights, a working group was established by TPO," Jalalipour added.
Pointing to the presence of representatives of some organizations such as Ministries of Justice, Agriculture, Industries and Mines, and Chamber of Commerce in the working group, he said the working group is formed to help improve the policy making, planning, supervision and organizing, and implementation of strategic programs in the sector.
Earlier, Secretary of National Saffron Council Farshid Manouchehri told Iran Daily that national brand for Iranian Saffron would be registered across 43 nations.
Once the final stages are completed, the exporters can print the proposed brand on their products, he pointed out.
He named the launch of national saffron website as the future plan of National Saffron Council. Those interested can get comprehensive information on saffron, cheating ways, and weekly prices of crop via visiting the website.
He announced that saffron commodity bank would be launched soon, explaining that the proposed bank would help production and export of the crop.
In addition, it will support farmers in case of reduction in saffron price and prevent price fluctuation, he said.
Saffron Bourse
Earlier in late December, head of the Majlis Agricultural Commission, Mohammad Ali Delavar, said once saffron being accepted in Iran Mercantile Exchange, the price of saffron will be determined in the Agricultural Bourse Hall and in compliance with global prices.
"With the entry of saffron to the mercantile exchange, it seems that the price of this valuable product would be determined in a stable and sustainable manner," said Delavar.
"Price of saffron in countries like Spain is declared on a global basis. Now Iran can also declare global prices for saffron and be more influential in determining the market's prices," he told IANA.
Iran is considered one of top saffron producers worldwide. Due to its diverse climate and fertile soil, Iran's agriculture products are rated among the best in the world with its saffron being second to none.
While saffron is planted in many regions of the country, including the southeast, Khorasan Razavi province ranks first in the country in terms of saffron production with 78 percent of land under plantation producing about 150 tons of the red gold. South Khorasan province ranks second nationwide with 12,000 hectares of area under plantation equivalent to 41 tons.
© Iran Daily 2011
