Fruit and Vegetables
Aug 8, 2022

Dried beans: summer is low season

BEIJING. As usual, trading activity on the Chinese dried bean markets has slowed down a bit in the summer, so many prices are also declining. However, the situation is different for adzuki beans.
Dried Fruit
Jul 26, 2022

Dates: World Cup to boost demand

BUSHEHR. Suppliers in Iran’s Bushehr province report that the prospects for this year’s crop could hardly be better, although drought is a concern. The 2022 men’s football World Cup, which will be held in Qatar from 21 November till 18 December, is already impacting demand for dates.
Dried Fruit
Jul 5, 2022

Dates: great potential

JAHROM. Jahrom county is the production centre for dates in Fars province, which accounts for 13% of Iran’s date output, and the growers here are presently busy pruning. Estimates state that prospects are highly encouraging for this year’s production.
Fruit and Vegetables
Jun 29, 2022

Dried beans: shortage likely to drive up prices

BEIJING. Supply is likely to be tight for some Chinese bean varieties this season, which will also be reflected in prices in the longer term. Heavy rains in southern China are limiting trading activities.
Dried Fruit
Jun 28, 2022

Dates: buyers switch to cheaper varieties

TEHRAN. While exports proved a total disaster in April, May was not much better. Iran only shipped 8,625 mt of dates worth USD 6.450 million overseas last month, which is more than 50% down on April. A curious difference has occurred.
Dried Fruit
Jun 21, 2022

Dates: annoying pests

AHVAZ. Growers will step up spraying in Iran’s Khuzestan’s province this year. Problem is that spider mites tend to create extensive damage as they feed on unripe dates. Producers act quickly as soon as the weather gets warm in late May and are busy securing their palm groves against this and other pests right through until early August.
Fruit and Vegetables
Jun 13, 2022

Dried beans: acreage in China is shrinking

BEIJING. For both red kidney beans and mung beans, Chinese market players expect smaller acreages this year. This is already having an impact on prices.
Dried Fruit
Jun 7, 2022

Dates: 67% slump in exports

TEHRAN. April was an absolute disaster in terms of exports. Iran, in fact, only shipped as little as 17,650 mt of dates worth USD 15.294 million overseas as official customs statistics show. This is a 67% decline on the 53,683 mt shipped in March. At USD 48.325 million, the export value also ranged 68% higher in March.
Dried Fruit
May 20, 2022

Dates: failure to draw on full potential

SHIRAZ. Iran’s date palm groves span an area of 240,000 ha and the country ranks third after Algeria and Saudi Arabia in this respect. Growers produce more than 280,000 mt of dates in Fars Province alone. In terms of table date production the country, however, lags well behind leading producer Saudi Arabia.
Dried Fruit
May 9, 2022

Dates: post-Ramadan hangover

TEHRAN. High prices for dates obviously failed to deter overseas buyers in the first quarter as recently issued export data shows. Exporters are, however, not quite satisfied. While prices surged this year, tides are now turning after Ramadan.
Fruit and Vegetables
May 3, 2022

Dried beans: quality is decisive

BEIJING. Demand on the Chinese dried bean market is slowly recovering, but the price development is strongly dependent on the quality of the goods. Meanwhile, the difficult transport situation seems to be easing further.
Dried Fruit
Apr 22, 2022

Dates: unsustainable prices

TEHRAN. Ramadan typically boosts demand for dates, especially in Iran where 40% of consumption takes place during Ramadan. This uptick in demand also has an impact on prices. Traders, however, reckon that the current prices are anything but sustainable.
Dried Fruit
Apr 14, 2022

Dates: Ramadan drives up prices

TEHRAN. Due to the Ramadan festivities, prices for Iranian dates have risen in recent weeks. Exports, meanwhile, are slightly down.
Fruit and Vegetables
Apr 4, 2022

Dried beans: supply difficulties impact trading in China

BEIJING. Transportation coupled with staff shortages are an issue in China and measures to curb the spread of Covid-19 have excacerbated the problem. This has also impacted trading with kidney, mung and adzuki beans.
Dried Fruit
Mar 22, 2022

Dates: Egypt increases production by 27%

REUS/CAIRO. At 140,000 mt, Egypt's date production in the 2021/22 season is a good 27% higher than last year. However, Saudi Arabia remains the undisputed number one.
Dried Fruit
Mar 18, 2022

Dates: dust storms disrupt pollination

BANDAR BUSHEHR. Pollination has started in Bushehr’s palm groves, where farmers harvest 174,000 mt of dates every year. While pollination normally continues until late March, things are different this year. Issue is that dust storms are causing problems.
Dried Fruit
Mar 11, 2022

Dried figs: buyers switch from Turkey to Iran

TEHRAN. With China back in the market again and the economic crisis unfolding in Turkey demand for dried figs has shifted to Iran. Recent export figures certainly show a clear trend. These are, however, not the only issues fuelling demand at present.
Dried Fruit
Mar 4, 2022

Dried figs: high hopes

TEHRAN. According to the Ministry of Agriculture Iran produces 96,274 mt of fresh figs on 60,250 ha. Fars province accounts for more than 85% of the area in which Iran’s figs are cultivated, this is also where most dried figs are produced. The market is closely following the talks over a possible revival of the nuclear deal as this directly impacts prices.
Dried Fruit
Mar 3, 2022

Dates: suppliers urged to improve food safety

TEHRAN. International trade not only presents many chances but also challenges for Iran’s date market. Traders urge growers, sellers and distributors as well as shipping companies and exporters to pay more attention to food health standards as nothing less than the future of the entire market is at stake.
Fruit and Vegetables
Mar 1, 2022

Dried beans: low demand and price discussions

BEIJING. Chinese market players report that the trade of dried beans is rather sluggish on both the domestic and export markets. In addition, there are disagreements on prices.
Dried Fruit
Feb 15, 2022

Dried figs: China drives exports

TEHRAN. Iran exported 903 mt of figs worth USD 2.735 million in January. Average export prices ranged at USD 3.03/kg. At 878 mt worth USD 2.644 million dried figs had a lion’s share in these volumes.
Dried Fruit
Feb 2, 2022

Dried figs: high demand causes prices to rise

TEHRAN. Good export demand has helped Iranian exports to increase year-on-year. Prices on the world market are also rising steadily.
Dried Fruit
Feb 2, 2022

Dates: considerable export increases

TEHRAN. Iranian customs statistics show that date exports increased significantly in 2021 compared to the previous year. Prices are also rising in the wake of Ramadan preparations.
Dried Fruit
Jan 18, 2022

Dates: 25% are destined for export

TEHRAN. A quarter of this year's Iranian date production is to be exported; this is expected to generate high foreign exchange earnings. However, exporters are confronted with demanding standards.
Fruit and Vegetables
Jan 17, 2022

Dried beans: dull markets due to Chinese New Year

BEIJING. Chinese market players report sluggish sales and little movement on the markets; the focus is already on the period after the Chinese New Year, which is celebrated from 1 February.
Dried Fruit
Dec 21, 2021

Dates: production ranges lower

ZAHEDAN. Drought and extreme heat have certainly impacted this year’s date production in Iran’s Sistan va Baluchestan Province. Growers mainly cultivate Mazafati and Rabbi dates here, which are particularly popular with buyers in Europe. Traders emphasise that the Rabbi dates grown in Saravan are superior in quality.
Fruit and Vegetables
Dec 6, 2021

Dried beans: price increases for many varieties

BEIJING. In the Chinese market, prices for black kidney beans, adzuki beans and mung beans remain firm with an upward trend. Exports of red kidney beans, however, have declined.
Dried Fruit
Nov 25, 2021

Dates: exporters stay cautious

TEHRAN. Iranian exporters are keeping a close eye on possible changes in the law that could even completely stop the export of agricultural products. They already had to deal with such problems in 2018.
Dried Fruit
Nov 18, 2021

Dried figs: 42,000 mt harvested in Fars Province

TEHRAN. Fars Province is Iran’s main production hub for figs. Summer rains and rot have, however, reduced this year’s production. Iran’s exports have, nevertheless, performed well in October. Shipments to China even account for as much as 81% of exports.
Dried Fruit
Nov 9, 2021

Dates: exports more than 20% up

TEHRAN. Iran’s date exports are more than 20% up on last year. This boost is not only driven by highly competitive prices but also by vaccinations that have helped to improve the pandemic situation and transportation in many countries. Mazafati dates are the most popular variety by far.
Dried Fruit
Nov 3, 2021

Dates: new orchards ensure production increases

REUS/TEHRAN. Numerous new date orchards in the growing countries ensure that global production for the 2021/22 season will increase despite higher pest infestation. This is partly thanks to private investors.
Dried Fruit
Nov 3, 2021

Dried figs: yields are 10% up

ABARKUH. The farmers in Abarkuh county in Iran’s Yazd Province need to adapt to climate change fast. Reduced rainfall, water shortages and persistent drought have prompted arable lands to decline from 20,000 hectares to 15,800 hectares in recent years as the local agricultural organisation reports. For farmers it is essential to increase water efficiency. New irrigation methods and favourable weather conditions have helped growers to step up fig production this year.
Dried Fruit
Oct 27, 2021

Dates: access to Russia is not so easy

BANDAR BUSHEHR. Annual date production ranges at 126,000 mt in Iran’s Bushehr Province. Although harvesting is well underway, the famers are concerned over sales. Russia is a particularly attractive destination for dates and suppliers are intent on ramping up sales here, which is not so easy.
Dried Fruit
Oct 11, 2021

Dates: export demand causes prices to rise

ZAHEDAN. In the Sistan and Baluchestan province, which is Iran's second largest date producer after Bushehr, the harvest is in full swing. Increased export demand is driving prices up.
Dried Fruit
Sep 24, 2021

Dates: supply demand imbalance

BANDAR BUSHEHR. Date harvesting started around 10 days early in some parts of Iran’s Bushehr Province due to hot weather. Exports form the province are expected to climb to 30,000 mt this year, despite economic problems and difficulties with Iraq and Afghanistan. Things are, however, less encouraging on the national level as the balance between supply and demand has been disrupted.
Dried Fruit
Sep 13, 2021

Dates: shifts in production

TEHRAN. Date production is estimated at 230,000 mt in Khuzestan Province this year. Exports of high-quality dates are expected to climb by 5,000 mt on last year to 85,000 mt. Khuzestan is, in fact, Iran’s most important province when it comes to exports. Drought is, however, a challenge.
Dried Fruit
Aug 31, 2021

Dates: crop losses of up to 15% expected

TEHRAN. After the hot and dry summer, Iranian market players expect that this year's production could be 10-15% lower than last year. If this record heat is repeated in the coming summers, date farmers expect a disaster.
Dried Fruit
Aug 12, 2021

Dates: demand situation has changed

TEHRAN. Exports performed well in the first quarter of the Iranian year, which started on 21 March. International demand for Mazafati dates was especially high. Things have, however, changed now.
Dried Fruit
Jul 30, 2021

Dates: first estimates on damage

TEHRAN. Iran’s date market is confronted with a water crisis. Not only has the country been hard hit by drought and extreme heat this year the situation is also compounded by inefficient irrigation systems and unauthorised wells. Estimates state that there are around 400,000 non-licenced wells in the country, over which there is no control. The Iranian Date Association has also issued first estimates on the damage caused by adverse weather conditions for this year’s crop.
Dried Fruit
Jul 20, 2021

Dates: conflicting reports

TEHRAN. While local traders report that drought and extreme heat will have an adverse impact on this year’s date production in Iran, the International Nut and Dried Fruit Council (INC) anticipates a 3.6% rise in the country’s production. Issue is that some provinces are less affected by extreme weather conditions than others. Prospects are, for instance, not bad in Hormozgan province, where harvesting is underway, but quite alarming in Kerman province.
Fruit and Vegetables
Mar 1, 2021

Lemons: Europe leads world production in 2020

BERLIN/BRUSSELS. Things are running smoothly for European lemon production. Turkey and Argentina, however, are struggling with difficulties.
Fruit and Vegetables
Jan 15, 2020

Apples: Poland cannot supply market in India

WARSAW. Due to the poor quality of production, apples from Poland cannot be shipped to India. Problem is that the fruits will not survive transportation.
Organic
Fruit and Vegetables
Dec 16, 2019

Dates: organic production gains in importance

TEHRAN. The market has witnessed considerable fluctuations in price over the last two weeks. Organic production is meanwhile gaining in importance in the Sistan and Baluchestan province. Organic dates are very much valued in Europe and in the Persian Gulf countries.
Dried Fruit
Dec 3, 2019

Dates: sharp rise in exports

BUSHER. The Busher Province is the third largest producing region in Iran. Annual production ranges at 5,000 metric tonnes. Market players are, in addition, highly satisfied with the export rates.
Dried Fruit
Nov 22, 2019

Dates: political tensions impact market

KERMAN. The International Nut and Dried Fruit Council has recently highlighted that water deficits are a cause of concern in the Middle East and in Africa. Iran is no exception to this as 97% of the fresh date production stems from irrigated areas. Political tensions are currently impacting the market.
Dried Fruit
Nov 5, 2019

Dates: the new crop has finally arrived

HAJIABAD. Due to the hot and dry climate Hajiabad in the Hormozgan province in southern Iran is the main producing region for Piarom dates. These fruits are in high demand. Although the harvest was delayed, the production prospects are highly encouraging.
Dried Fruit
Oct 21, 2019

Dates: market remains unperturbed by crop damages

TEHRAN. Although drought has considerably impacted production in some regions in Iran, traders nevertheless remain optimistic. The market is also reckoning with an improved performance in the export market.
Fruit and Vegetables
Sep 2, 2019

Watermelons: Ukraine expects a revival in the export market

KIEV. After witnessing a significant decline in exports two years ago, market players in the Ukraine are confident that this year will bring a turning point.