Saffron is one of the most expensive and valuable spices in the world. In addition to food consumption, this valuable product is widely used in the pharmaceutical industry. This product has one of the most comprehensive buying and selling markets in the world. So that saffron business is considered one of the most economical and profitable global businesses for saffron exporting countries.
Therefore, in addition to the countries that planted saffron in the past, today many countries in the world are cultivating saffron so that they can present themselves as saffron exporters in the world saffron market and achieve a profitable business. Meanwhile, Iran is known as the largest producer of saffron.
First rank: for Iranian saffron
According to the Deputy Ministry of Agriculture, Iran has a share equal to 92-95% of the world's saffron production. Of course, a major part of its production is not registered globally. Like domestic consumption, which is not included in global statistics. Forecasts for 2020 are about 500 tons of saffron exports in Iran.
Second place: Spanish saffron
In the world ranking after Iran, Spain is the largest producer of saffron in the world. The universities of Spain have done extensive research on saffron and considered the right conditions for saffron cultivation and announced it to the farmers. The climate of the areas that cultivate saffron in Spain is similar to the prosperous areas of saffron cultivation in Iran such as Qaenat. The annual production of Spanish saffron is 25 tons. However, it is one of the main saffron exporting countries in the world.
Spain accounts for 20.7% of world exports with a volume of 57.08 million dollars. The United States of America, Saudi Arabia and Italy are three countries that are among the first export destinations of Spanish saffron.
Third place: Afghan saffron
According to the latest reports, in 2018, 18 tons of saffron were harvested from 6,200 hectares of cultivated areas in Afghanistan. The export of saffron worth 58 million dollars is a growing market for this country. This saffron exporting country sends a significant amount of its saffron to India, Saudi Arabia, France, the United Arab Emirates, the United States of America and Turkey.
Afghanistan imports about 65.7% of its saffron from Iran. Iranian saffron is always the first word in all countries. The quality of Afghan saffron is close to Iranian saffron due to the similarity of the climate and it has many fans.
Fourth rank: Indian saffron
In the Indian state of Kashmir, more than 120 thousand families work and earn money on saffron. In India, about 200 villages in five districts of Kashmir state are engaged in saffron production. The saffron imported into India is worth 31.06 million dollars and constitutes 11% of the world import of saffron. Most of the export volume of Indian saffron is sent to Hong Kong.
Fifth rank: Greek saffron
The lands of northern Greece are cultivated with saffron. This saffron producer has a total area between 1000 and 1200 hectares under cultivation. The saffron obtained from the cultivated area of this country is about 8 tons per year. Greece has an export value of 9.47 million dollars.
Although Spain is the main exporter of saffron in Europe, Greece has also been able to present itself as one of the main exporters of saffron in this continent. Greece sends its saffron to France, Poland, Spain, Italy, Switzerland and Germany.
Sixth rank: Italian saffron
The next place in saffron production is Italy. Italy produces about 600 kilos of saffron annually. This saffron-producing country supplies most of its production to domestic consumption. Italy has invested in Moroccan lands and is considered one of the largest importers of saffron in this country.