The Ramadan 2023 campaign of Iranian dates has seen remarkable growth, according to Hossein Vasei, sales manager of the exporting company Amoot Iranian. Hossein said that Amoot's pre-Ramadan sales have increased by 28% compared to the same period of the last year, despite an unexpected challenge.
Hossein explains, "This year we faced a shortage of refrigerated containers. The cost of transportation has risen sharply, and this has been a serious problem for many exporters and a cause of an increase of Iranian dates prices."
But fortunately, global demand for dates has remained strong, according to Hossein: "Iranian dates have been able to maintain their position as a popular choice among consumers. Prices have also been favorable this year, increasing the profitability of Iranian date exporters. Strong demand, combined with extensive marketing efforts in preparation for the Ramadan campaign, has contributed to the increase in sales. The health benefits of dates are becoming more widely known, which gives us another market segment in addition to the demand from Muslim populations."
The most requested Iranian date varieties for Ramadan 2023, according to Hossein, are Mazafati, Piarom, and Rabbi. "These varieties can be used for direct consumption, and also for preparing traditional sweets and desserts," explains the exporter. "Demand came mainly from India, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar, where we increased our sales by approximately 15%, 12%, and 10% respectively. In addition, Germany and Russia are emerging markets, with imports increasing by 5% and 7% respectively this year".
The Ramadan campaign is important for all date producers and exporters, as date consumption increases significantly during this month. Hossein gives an example: "In Amoot, the Ramadan campaign represents about 40% of our annual volumes. As this is a crucial period for the industry, it is important to maintain a high level of volume during the holy month, as well as smooth operations to meet our customers' expectations."
For more information:
Hossein Vasei
Amoot Iranian
Tel: +98 915 689 3506
Email: h.vasei@amoot.com
www.amootiranian.com