Iran ranks among world’s top five producers of eight farm products, FAO data show
Iran ranked among the world’s five largest producers of eight agricultural products in 2024 despite water shortages and prolonged drought, while earning $1.15 billion from exports of five major farm commodities, according to data from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), cited by the Iranian economic news outlet Eqtesad-e Moaser.
The figures also show that Iran was the world’s second-largest exporter of pistachios and dates and the leading exporter of figs during the year.
Pistachios were Iran’s biggest agricultural export earner in 2024, generating $636 million, double the $317 million recorded in 2023. The country exported 98,000 tons of the product, making it the world’s second-largest exporter after the United States, which shipped 348,000 tons.
Iran ranked third in global pistachio production, with output rising 3% to 316,000 tons from 307,000 tons a year earlier. The United States led production with 498,000 tons, followed by Turkey with 383,000 tons. Iran had ranked second in 2023 but fell behind Turkey despite increasing its output.
Dates were the country’s second-largest agricultural export earner, bringing in $172 million in 2024, down 14% from the previous year.
Iran exported 315,000 tons of dates, ranking second globally behind Saudi Arabia, which shipped 351,000 tons. It was also the world’s fourth-largest producer, with output rising 18% to 1.182 million tons. Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Algeria ranked ahead of Iran.
Apples ranked third among Iran’s agricultural export earners, with exports worth $130 million in 2024, half the value recorded a year earlier. Iran exported $280 million worth of apples in 2023, when it ranked ninth among the world’s largest exporters.
Despite the decline in export earnings, Iran’s apple production rose 11% to 2.346 million tons in 2024, making it the world’s seventh-largest producer.
Iran was the world’s largest fig exporter, shipping about 14,000 tons worth $18 million in 2024, according to FAO data. It ranked fifth in global fig production, with output increasing 3% to around 75,000 tons.
Butter and raisins were Iran’s fourth- and fifth-largest agricultural export earners, respectively, generating $112 million and $99 million during the year. Saffron, another major Iranian export, is not included in the FAO figures cited in the report.
Beyond its leading export commodities, Iran held several other high global rankings in agricultural production.
The country was the world’s fourth-largest producer of apricots and walnuts in 2024, harvesting 304,000 tons of apricots and 411,000 tons of walnuts. Walnut production increased 8% from about 380,000 tons in 2023.
Iran ranked fifth globally in the production of cherries, sour cherries and kiwifruit. Cherry output fell 5% to 137,000 tons, while sour cherry production edged up by 1,000 tons to 136,000 tons. Kiwifruit production reached 294,000 tons.
The FAO data also placed Iran sixth in almond production, with 132,000 tons in 2024, and seventh in apple and peach production.