[caption id="attachment_13555" align="alignright" width="218"] Iran sets record in producing, exporting pistachio.[/caption]

TEHRAN (ISNA)- Iran set a record in producing and exporting pistachio, and is getting close to the US in producing the agricultural product, said an Iranian Ministry of Agriculture official Ali Mohseni.

Iran set a record in producing and exporting pistachio this year (which started on March 21, 2014), he said, adding, “Iran is still the world’s first pistachio exporter, and we are getting close to the US as the first producer given the rising process over recent years.”

“Iran produced 225.000 tons of pistachio last year and made 235.000 tons this year, rising by 17 percent comparing to last year.”

Iran exported 171.119 tons of pistachio worth $1.5 bln over the first 11 months of Iranian calendar year, rising by 71 percent in terms of weight and value comparing to similar period last year.

The key customers of Iranian pistachio are the UAE, Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, Turkey, India and Germany.

By ISNA