Caviar exports surge in H1 calendar year as Qatar tops buyers list
Iran exported 3.5 metric tons of caviar worth $2.314 million in the first half of the Iranian calendar year (began on March 21), with Qatar emerging as the top buyer, according to customs data released Tuesday.
Qatar accounted for the largest share of sales, purchasing 1,280 kilograms of Iranian caviar for $763,000 — making it the first and most significant customer of Iran’s prized black gold. The United Arab Emirates followed closely in second place, importing 1,000 kilograms valued at $732,000. Germany rounded out the top three with 442 kilograms purchased for $323,000, ISNA reported.
Other key buyers included the Netherlands (150 kg, $110,000), Hong Kong (90 kg, $57,000), Canada (80 kg, $54,000), Australia (75 kg, $49,000), Brazil (50 kg, $30,000), Switzerland (45 kg, $27,000), and Japan (40 kg, $30,000). In total, caviar was shipped to 30 countries across five continents, including Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Spain, France, Greece, Italy, Kuwait, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Oman, Portugal, Romania, Seychelles, Sweden, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, Uzbekistan, and South Africa.
The caviar industry had increasingly relied on passenger travel to move product abroad — a practice that has drawn scrutiny from global regulators.
As previously disclosed by Iran’s Fisheries Organization, at least 50% of all caviar exports leave the country via passenger luggage — a method that bypasses formal customs declarations and raises concerns over tax evasion and illicit trade.