November 22, 2012

Iran seafood exports reach US$112 million in value

Iran has seen US$112 million in seafood exports since March 20, according to an official with the State Fishery Organisation.

Issa Golshahi said 27,521 tonnes of seafood have been exported to US, Canada, Australia, Italy, Spain, Egypt, Kuwait, the UAE, Lebanon, Vietnam, China, and South Korea. Roughly 250 kilogrammes of caviar has also been exported during the period of time, he noted. In October, the deputy agriculture minister said the value of exports in the fishery sector will surpass US$350 million. "The exports stood at US$210 million last year," Gholamreza Razeqi said. About 4,000 tonnes of shrimp valued at US$17 million was exported last year to the UAE, Kuwait, Lebanon, Australia and Spain, he said, adding that infrastructures have been provided to export 500 kilogrammes of caviar in the current year.

Iran plans to increase annual caviar output by 10 fold to one tonne in the current calendar year, which began on March 20, Razeqi said in June.