Although there are other big exporters of pistachios in the world, Iran always ranks #1.
Iran's 2018/19 crop was the third-largest in the world, with a total of 52,000 metric tons (in-shell basis).
However, that year's very little harvest made it an exception.
Iran is the second-largest producer of pistachios in the world, with a five-year average yield of 172,000 metric tons.
Pistachios are also highly popular in Iran.
About 35% is utilized domestically, while the remaining 65% is exported.
Iran exports a substantially bigger proportion of pistachio kernels than the United States (about 20%).
Iran accounts for between sixty and seventy percent of the world's pistachio kernel exports on average.
The United Arab Emirates and India were the top two export destinations for Iranian pistachio in 2018.
More than half of all exports are transported to Germany, which accounts for sixteen percent of all shipments.
The expansion of Iranian pistachios in Spain, their largest European market, is accelerating.
From 2014 to 2018, shipments to Spain grew from 600 to more than 1,300 tonnes.
With approximately 200,000 hectares dedicated to pistachio cultivation, Kerman Province in southeast Iran is the largest producer of pistachios in the nation.
Approximately 70% of Iran's pistachios originate from this region, however, production is suffering due to water shortages, the need for irrigation, and post-harvest operations.
The four most prevalent varieties are Fandoghi (growing on 40% of Iran's pistachio trees), Kalleh-Ghouchi (20%), Akbari (15%), and Ahmad-Aghaei (12%).
Seventy percent of the crop is produced by small-scale farmers who seldom use mechanical harvesting equipment.
Pistachios from Iran are in great demand because to their high percentage of enormous kernels and high kernel-to-shell ratio.
To increase production, Iran's producers, processors, and exporters have founded the Iran Pistachio Association (IPA).
The IPA aggressively promotes cutting-edge manufacturing technologies and participates in major international trade exhibitions.
The United States’ pistachio production and exports are unmatched.
In 2018, the United States produced more than 450 thousand metric tons of pistachios.
The United States (47%), Iran (27%), and Turkey (20%) are projected to produce 95% of the world’s crops.
The United States is the largest exporter of pistachios in the world, exporting almost 70 percent of its entire production.
In 2018, the United States exported 193,000 tons of pistachios, representing fifty percent of the global total.
Iran's unusually huge share of global exports was partly attributable to the country's meager crop; the United States generally contributes 36 percent during a five-year period.
China had the largest demand for U.S. -grown pistachios (42%), followed by Germany (10%).
The majority of US exports are in-shell pistachios.
A third of all American pistachios are exported to the European Union.
This year, U.S. exports to the EU reached an all-time high of 64,000 metric tons, continuing a multi-year trend of growth.
Germany is the most common European destination, receiving 30% of these shipments, followed by Belgium (27%) and the Netherlands (14%). The demand for U.S.
