TEHRAN- Iran exported 130,000 tons of eggs valued at more than $140 million to the target countries in the previous Iranian calendar year (ended on March 19), the deputy agriculture minister for livestock, and poultry affairs said.

According to Mohammad-Ebrahim Hassannejad, Iranian eggs have been exported to various countries such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Qatar, Oman, and the UAE, ISNA reported.

Iran’s egg exports increased by 75,000 tons in the previous year as compared to the year before when the total export was 55,000 tons.

Iran has the capacity to produce 1.6 million tons of eggs annually.

Iranian eggs are mainly exported to neighboring countries including Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, and Qatar.

The official noted that more than 1.25 million tons of eggs have also been consumed in the country last year.

He further noted that the export of eggs is expected to reach 160,000 tons in the current Iranian calendar year.

Pointing to the chicken production in the country, he said: “More than 18,300 poultry units are active in the country. We produce about 2,600,000 tons of chicken meat annually.”

“This year, we plan to reach self-sufficiency in chicken meat production, and the plan is to supply all strategic reserves from domestic production in addition to meeting domestic needs,” Hassannejad added.

EF/