Although Iran is the largest producer of saffron, it holds a small share in saffron exports. Therefore, entering the saffron export market from Iran could be a good idea due to the lower level of competition.
The first step in exporting saffron from Iran is to determine your export strategy. You need to clarify:
- What is your plan and goal for exporting saffron from Iran?
- To which country do you want to export saffron and what type of market are you targeting?
- Will you grow saffron yourself in Iran, or do you intend to buy saffron from Iranian farmers?
- What is the suitable packaging for your saffron?
- Which type of Iranian saffron is suitable for export to international markets?
Before starting the saffron export process from Iran, you need to consider these points.
Saffron from Iran is exported in two forms: bulk and packaged.
- Bulk saffron from Iran is exported in weights of half a kilogram and one kilogram.
- Packaged saffron from Iran is used for packages weighing less than 30 grams.
The second step in exporting saffron from Iran involves understanding the global market and international marketing. This means you need to:
- Get familiar with the saffron-importing markets.
- Select your target market.
- Review the regulations of saffron-importing countries.
- Obtain information about markets with the highest demand for saffron.
Before purchasing and packaging saffron, you must understand the global market and then develop a specific international marketing plan.
When choosing the destination country for exporting saffron from Iran, consider the following:
- The distance between Iran and that country.
- Proper marketing and understanding of the target market.
The next step in exporting saffron from Iran is to ensure you have the appropriate saffron and packaging. Decide whether you want to grow saffron yourself and export it, or guide farmers to cultivate high-quality saffron for export.
If you are a saffron producer, you can maintain the quality of your saffron using saffron drying machines and offer a higher quality product.
Additionally, quality and attractive packaging are crucial, as proper packaging is essential for competing in global markets.
The next step is obtaining the necessary export permits for saffron, which include:
- Business cards.
- Export license.
- Health certificate.
- Standard certificate.
After obtaining these permits, you need to register your saffron with customs.
To register the product with Iranian customs, you need a tax declaration containing the following details:
- Details of the declarant.
- Information about the exporter.
- Information about the country of origin.
- Information about the destination country.
- Vehicle details.
- Product specifications.
- Type and quantity.
- Weight on packages.
- Types of exports.
- Customs duties.
- Customs registration name of the goods, and more.
Finally, your tax declaration, along with documents, will be submitted for customs approval. The documents will be reviewed to ensure the accuracy of the information and declared value of the product. Once the details are verified, the approved and signed form will be stamped and signed, with one copy registered with customs and the other handed to you.
A business card is issued by the Chamber of Commerce and the Ministry of Industry and Mining, and must be approved by the Ministry of Commerce. The export business card is a document through which the exporter can conduct their business activities.
The next step in saffron export from Iran is determining the price of the exported saffron. (To find the appropriate price for your product, you can use pricing commissions to find a suitable price for your saffron.)
In your pricing strategy, you should set a price for your products that covers all costs, including:
- Price and value of the exported saffron.
- Insurance cost.
- Packaging cost.
- Transportation cost.
- Account opening fees for transferring funds.
- Brand registration cost, and more.
Determining the export tariff is the responsibility of the Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade. Saffron must be approved by the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Industry and Mining, and the National Standard Organization.
At the National Standard Organization, quality analysis must be conducted, and the product must be measured according to Iranian standards. Quality analysis is performed using laboratory equipment to ensure that saffron exported to global markets is of the highest quality. Quality analysis is carried out for both domestic and international markets.
Factors considered in saffron quality analysis include:
- Moisture content of the saffron.
- Presence of mold and insects.
- Presence of flower and plant residues or foreign materials and any kind of contamination.
- Taste of the saffron.
- Color of the saffron.
- Smell of the saffron.
- Amount of mycotoxins present in the saffron, and more.
In the next step of saffron export from Iran, ensure that you use export insurance to protect against any loss or damage to your shipment in case of unfortunate events.
Determining the quality of saffron is the responsibility of the Iranian Standard Institute. The Iranian Standard Institute is a member of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), responsible for issuing authenticity and standard certificates for goods.
