Iran exported USD 451 million (EUR 384 million) worth of seafood products from April to October this year, which was up about 30 percent compared to the same period last year, according to the Iran Fisheries Organization (IFO).
By volume during the period, the Middle Eastern nation shipped 243,000 metric tons (MT) of seafood abroad.
IFO Head Hamzeh Rostampour attributed the spike in exports to government commitments made toward addressing fishing industry challenges, especially in the southwestern Khuzestan province, as well as investments in infrastructure to support marine fishing activities.
Elsewhere, the shrimp aquaculture sector has sustained growth since 2022, according to the Aquatics Production and Trade Union of Iran, which is composed of seafood processors, exporterss and importers, aquaculture entrepreneurs, feed manufacturers, and retailers.
The union said that around 29,400 MT of shrimp worth USD 97.4 million (EUR 83 million) were exported in 2024, marking an increase from 16,400 MT worth USD 49.7 million (EUR 42.3 million) exported in 2022.
Despite the nation’s shrimp-farming sector grappling with challenges such as international trade sanctions, climate change, and poor biosecurity measures, the union said the country's shrimp industry "has improved substantially in … shrimp hatcheries infrastructure, feed mills, packaging and processing units, supporting industries, and expert human resources."
Iran's shrimp output is expected to increase to 60,000 MT in 2026, according to the union, largely thanks to a strategy aimed at maintaining existing export markets, expanding to new export destinations, and generating more value-added products.
"The industry’s attention has turned to implementing advanced certifications such as the Aquaculture Stewardship Council standard in farms, feed mills, and processing facilities, with several of these units currently in the early stages of integrating and adopting these standards," it adds.
Meanwhile, Iran as a whole is targeting an increase in fish production from the current 1.4 million MT to 1.8 million MT under the country’s Seventh National Development Plan.
According to the Iranian Ministry of Agriculture, the plan outlines more than 150 seafood industry-related projects worth USD 42.5 million (EUR 36.2 million).
