TEHRAN -- Iran with an annual production of 160 tons of saffron tops the world's saffron producers, a report by the Commerce Ministry's Public Relations Department said here on Friday.

The report quoted Deputy Head of the Exports and Marketing Office of the Export Promotion Center of Iran (EPCI), Soltani, as saying that the country has produced 160 tons of saffron and exported 89 tons of it during the last Iranian calendar year (ended March 20).

He added saffron exports last year amounted to 88.9 tons, worth $36.8 million, showing increases of 8.5 percent and 28.2 percent in terms of weight and value respectively, IRNA reported.