WANA (Nov 13) – Iran has been ranked among the world’s top three date-producing nations and recognized as the largest global exporter of the fruit, producing 1.5 million tons annually across over 300,000 hectares of farmland, said Abolghasem Mohammadzadeh, a member of Iran’s National Date Committee.
Iran Among Top Three Date Producers Worldwide
Speaking at the National Date Desk meeting in Bushehr on Thursday, Mohammadzadeh said the top ten global producers of dates are Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Algeria, Pakistan, Iraq, Sudan, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Tunisia. Iran’s annual production of 1.5 million tons places it firmly among the top three producers worldwide.
He added that Iran also holds the position of the world’s leading exporter, shipping around 430,000 tons of dates annually, followed by Saudi Arabia with 390,000 tons and the UAE with 330,000 tons. The total export value of Iranian dates is estimated at $430 million.
From India to Russia
Iran’s major export markets include India, Pakistan, Turkey, the UAE, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, China, Iraq, and Russia. The country’s most popular export varieties are Mozafati, Kabkab, Shahani, Zahedi, Rabbi, Khassoui, and Piarom.
Globally, around 9 million tons of dates are produced each year, of which about 7 million tons are consumed domestically within producing countries, while only 2 million tons enter international trade, Mohammadzadeh said.
He stressed that expanding processing and packaging industries is key to increasing value-added potential and enhancing Iran’s share in global markets.
Mohammadzadeh also highlighted the significance of the National Date Exhibition and Festival in Bushehr Province, describing it as an important national event aimed at implementing the committee’s resolutions and promoting the development, efficiency, and export growth of this strategic agricultural product.
