About 400 tons of saffron are estimated to be produced in the current Iranian year (March 2016-17) from 90,000 hectares of land under saffron cultivation across the country to register a 15% increase compared with last year, a member of Iran�s National Saffron Council said.

�Some 300 tons of saffron can be exported. The US has recently resumed its purchases from Iran after 15 years. Americans consume 50 to 60 tons of saffron annually and the country is expected to become our biggest export destination in the near future,� Ali Hosseini also told ISNA on Monday, adding that the saffron harvest season will begin in 20 days.

According to the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration, 54 tons of saffron worth 2,428 billion rials ($68.22 million at market exchange rates) were exported in the five months of the current Iranian year.

The figures show a 5.8% rise in weight and about 11.3% increase in value compared with last year�s corresponding period. The UAE, Spain and China were the main customers of Iranian saffron in the period.

More than 350 tons of saffron were produced in Iran over the last fiscal year (March 2015-16), registering a 25% increase year-on-year.

Iran is the world�s biggest saffron producer and accounts for more than 93% of the global production.

By Financial Tribune