Iran has enacted a 60-day ban on the export of apples, oranges, and dates amid rising food prices, expected to significantly influence global apple markets. The ban is likely to drive prices higher, especially in the Middle East, Europe, and Ukraine, while Iran faces severe economic challenges with heightened inflation and a depreciating currency.
Trade sources from EastFruit report that Iran has imposed a 60-day ban on exporting apples, oranges, and dates, due to escalating food prices causing unrest before Ramadan. Though some sources indicate that the ban was set to take effect on February 24, 2025, others claim shipments were feasible until just recently, with an imminent halt expected as Ramadan begins.
As a leading global apple exporter, Iran’s decision, which may affect up to 1 million tons of apple exports in peak seasons, will considerably impact international apple markets. This situation parallels the export volumes seen from countries such as Italy, China, and Poland. Iranian apples play a crucial role in importing markets like India, while also affecting prices in markets such as the UAE, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan for other exporting countries like Ukraine and Poland.
The anticipated decrease in Iranian apple supply is expected to bolster high apple prices across the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Central Asia, which, in turn, may elevate prices in Europe and Turkey during the same period. The Ukrainian market will also likely experience this price surge, particularly between March and June, building on record-high figures.
Analysts at EastFruit have described Iran’s decision as populist, warning that it may worsen the nation’s economic issues. Official inflation in Iran reportedly reached 31.8% year-on-year in January 2025, although experts suggest that the actual inflation rate is significantly higher, estimated to be between 1.5 to 2 times that figure.
Furthermore, the Iranian rial has plummeted in value, trading at approximately 930,000–950,000 IRR per US dollar on the unofficial market as of February 2025, representing a 14% depreciation within a month. In stark contrast, the official exchange rate remains fixed at 42,000 IRR for essential imports, leaving the export ban to further complicate foreign exchange earnings and intensify issues surrounding both the exchange rate and inflation.
In summary, Iran’s export ban on apples, oranges, and dates is poised to significantly influence global food prices, especially apples, exacerbating the economic challenges the country currently faces. Given the prominence of Iranian agricultural exports, this prohibition will likely lead to higher prices in various regions, including the Middle East and Europe, while simultaneously creating strain on the Iranian economy due to escalating inflation and currency devaluation.
Original Source: east-fruit.com
