TEHRAN- As announced by the director general of the Iranian Ministry of Agriculture’s Office of Quality Improvement, Processing, and Aquatic Market, the value of Iran’s caviar export increased by over 41 percent during the first quarter of the current Iranian calendar year (March 20-June 20), as compared to the same period of time in the past year.

Abbas Mokhtari said that the country exported 1,353 kilograms of caviar valued at $721,000 in the first quarter of this year, which indicates also 82 percent rise in terms of weight year on year.

According to the official, the value of Iran’s fishery export increased by over 30 percent during the first quarter of this Iranian calendar year, as compared to the same period of time in the past year.

Mokhtari said that the country exported 73,369 tons of fishery valued at $121.4 million in the first quarter of this year, while the figure was 52,282 tons worth $93.1 million in the same time span of the past year.

The official also announced that the quarterly fishery export indicates over 40 percent rise in terms of weight year on year.

As previously announced by the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA), Iran's fishery exports in the last Iranian calendar year (ended on March 19) increased by three percent and exceeded $310 million.

The IRICA said the weight of exported fishery products in the last Iranian fiscal year was 149,000 metric tons, which shows a 12 percent increase compared to the previous year.

During the last Iranian fiscal year, shrimp exports also reached $98.5 million, accounting for 32 percent of the total export value among Iran's fishery products.

Russia, the United Arab Emirates, and China were the main destinations for Iran's exported shrimp during the mentioned period, showing a decrease of 26 percent in terms of value compared to the previous year.

According to the report, fisheries exports account for less than 70 percent of Iran's total exports, with the UAE, China, Russia, and Iraq being the largest markets for Iran's fishery products.

Iran imported 24,000 metric tons of fishery products worth $72 million last year, indicating an increase of 121 percent in terms of weight and an increase of 113 percent in terms of value.

The growth and development of Iran’s aquaculture industry has reached the point where the country has become a model for the countries of the region and the world.

MA