Iran: Export of sweets and chocolates with less than one third capacity

The article highlights the significant decrease in the export of sweets, biscuits, and chocolates from Iran, with a 18% drop to $475 million in 2020 compared to the previous year. The main markets for these products were neighboring countries, including Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Persian Gulf states, as well as Eastern Europe, Russia, China, and the United States. The decrease in export is attributed to various challenges, such as sanctions, the COVID-19 pandemic, and increased costs of raw materials. The secretary of the Biscuit, Confectionery and Chocolate Industries Association emphasized that with the resolution of existing issues, there is potential to export up to $1.5 billion to $2 billion to neighboring countries annually. Additionally, the article discusses the difficulties faced by producers in sourcing raw materials like sugar and flour due to supply issues and rising prices, as well as challenges in importing wheat. Producers are struggling to balance the increased costs with the need to avoid significant price hikes, which could lead to losing their market.