Irna News Agency

Speaking to Islamic Republic News Agency, Kaveh Zargaran said that Iran's exports of dates have grown by 20 percent over the past year while the exports of raisins have declined by 46 percent over the one year period. 

He said that dates and raisins are among the most important garden products of Iran after pistachio, apple and saffron. 

Iran exported more than 253,000 tons of dates valued at $250 million as well as 96,000 tons of raisins worth $153 million last year, the official said. 

Iran's exports of dates grew by 21% in terms of weight and 20% in terms of value in the one year period compared to the preceding year, Zargaran said, adding that nearly 58% of the product are exported to India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Turkey and Iraq. 

He also said that over half of Iran's raisins product over the past year was exported to the UAE, Russia, Kazakhstan, Spain and Ukraine.