According to a late published report by IPA (Iran Pistachio Association), in the first half of the Persian commercial year (from October 2021 to the end of March 2022), out of the total forecast of 140,000 tons of available pistachios, equivalent to 96,000 tons were consumed, of which 14,000 tons are estimated for domestic consumption. According to the Iranian Customs Office statistics, the total weight of pistachio exports during this period was reported to be 71,000 tons, including 11,000 tons of waste related to the export of kernel peels and green kernels, a total of 82,000 tons of dry in-shell pistachios were exported to the destination markets. This amount of pistachio exports was unexpected compared to the volume of Iranian pistachio production and the low demand for Iranian pistachios due to the large supply of American pistachios at more competitive prices than the previous year.
The amount of pistachio consumption in the first six months of the commercial year is estimated to be about 69% of the estimated inventory of the first year. The Far East has 19,000 tons of total exports compared to the first six months of the previous commercial year, which has decreased by 72%. The Commonwealth of Nations, as the second destination for Iran’s pistachio exports, has been the buyer of 14,000 tons of Iranian pistachios. The export of Iranian pistachios to these destinations in the first half of the commercial year has decreased by about 6% compared to the same period last year. The Indian subcontinental market has been reported as the third export destination this year with a share of 11,000 tons of Iranian pistachio exports. The important point about all the main export markets of Iran’s pistachio is that if we compare their percentage share of the total export for six months this year compared to the same period last year, we will notice some interesting changes; Far East market, contributing 27% of the total export of six months this year, has been the largest export destination of Iran’s pistachio, although last year this market had a share of 48% of the total export of Iran’s pistachio.
This decrease in the percentage of exports to the Far East is due to the sensitivity of Chinese buyers to the price and their pull towards American pistachios, which have been offered this year thanks to significant supply and more suitable prices than Iranian pistachios.
Despite the more competitive prices of American pistachios and the shortage of Iranian pistachios compared to the year before, the percentage share of Iranian pistachio exports to the subcontinental markets of India and Russia has increased this year. This shows the desire and pulls of these two important markets toward Iranian pistachios. As a variety-oriented market, the Indian market has a high demand for Ahmad Aghai variety and Iranian pistachio kernels and has a great potential for the growth of Iranian pistachio consumption. Regarding the Russian market, due to political issues and sanctions between Russia and America, it has been more difficult for Russian customers to buy American pistachios;
It goes without saying that the sale of American pistachios in the Indian and Russian markets has been significant in the last 6 months. Regarding the European Union market, it should be said that despite the decrease in the weight of exports in the first six months of this year compared to the same period of the last business year, the percentage share of this market in the total exports this year has increased compared to last year; This percentage increase is mainly related to the high demand of this market for Iranian pistachio nuts when European customers have wanted and bought Iranian pistachio kernels while the American pistachio kernels were in severe shortage.
Regarding the high demand for Iranian pistachio kernels to cover the consumption in Ramadan, the percentage share of Iranian pistachio exports to the Middle East market has also increased in the first six months of this year compared to last year. The Middle East market in this report refers to pistachio consuming countries and pistachio re-exporting countries. The balance of Iran’s pistachio crop at the end of March 2022, after deducting the estimated domestic consumption and the amount of exports, is estimated to be 44,000 tons. The current conditions of the market have been affected by the frost and the increase in the dollar rate at the beginning of the new Persian year, which has led to a decrease in supply by gardeners and an increase in prices in the domestic market.
