Financial Tribune- Iran produces 94% of all the saffron in the world, yet it accounts for only 60% of the global saffron trade.

“About 34% of the saffron cultivated in Iran are labeled and sold by other countries,” the deputy head of the National Council of Saffron said.

“The remaining 6% of saffron production take place in Greece, Afghanistan, India and Spain,” Gholamreza Miri was also quoted as saying by Mehr News Agency.

According to the official, the domestic market for saffron is worth 25 trillion rials (more than $646.6 million at market exchange rate).

Recently, Iran’s National Saffron Council voiced concern about the unrestrained smuggling of Iranian saffron bulbs to Afghanistan and China.

“We need to block the illegal outflow of saffron bulbs and support domestic production and exports,” said the head of the council, Gholamhossein Shafei, who is also the new president of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture.

At present, he noted, the global market for saffron is managed by Europeans.

Iran exported more than 66 tons of saffron worth $96.7 million during the seven months to October 21, registering a 15% and 14% growth in weight and value respectively compared with last year’s corresponding period.

Last year (March 2015-16), more than 350 tons of saffron were produced in the country, indicating a 25% rise compared with the previous year, of which about 130 tons were exported.