Iran expects first wheat export in years

Iran is expecting a surplus of wheat this year, which it plans to release onto the regional markets, the country’s top body in charge of ensuring food security says.

The government has already purchased more wheat from local farmers than needed for the country’s consumption this year, deputy head of the Government Trading Corporation (GTC) Hassan Abbasi Maroufan said Wednesday.

“That is why we will be looking to export the (surplus) crop to the regional markets,” the Mehr news agency quoted him as saying.

Abbasi Maroufan said state-sponsored purchases of wheat from domestic farmers have hit 10.283 million tonnes so far and are expected to reach 11 million tonnes, a rise of 30% on the year before.

“Total production this year is estimated at 13 million tonnes, which is quite significant and valuable and we should appreciate our wheat growers and farmers,” he said.

The production of durum wheat “with good quality and higher global standards has been done in 10 provinces which is ideal for pasta-making,” Abbasi-Maroufan added.