LONDON, June 15 (IranMania) – Pistachio exports earned the country some $40 mln and 100 thousand in the past two months, said ISNA quoting a report by Iran’s Customs Administration.

It added that some $60 mln worth of dried fruits were also exported in the same period, showing a decline of 44% against the figure for the corresponding period last year, Iran Daily said.

Some $26.7 mln worth of dried fruits were exported to United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong.

UAE, Hong Kong, Germany, Russia and Spain are the main international markets for Iran’s dried fruit exports.

Some $7.8 mln worth of pistachios were exported to UAE in the past couple of months, when Germany imported $7.3 mln, Italy $2.8 mln, Hong Kong $2.7 mln and Russia $2.3 mln worth of pistachios from Iran.

Raisin exports reached $14.1 mln, showing a 36% increase against the figure for the corresponding period last year.

Some $3.1 mln worth of dates were exported in the period, which was up 18%. Agro experts believe that the huge publicity by the United States, which has turned into a major pistachio producing country in recent years, has helped Iran take advantage of growing international market for the nut.

Thanks to the cultivation and marketing of pistachios by the Americans, Iran could easily take advantage of the current situation to improve pistachio exports.

However, the agro industry needs to develop pistachio sector to meet growing world demand.

While the area under pistachio cultivation needs to increase, Iranian farmers face severe technical, financial and commercial challenges.

Iran exported 136,000 tons of pistachios worth over $800 mln during March 2004-2005.