Classification
Product TypeRaw Material
Product FormDried
Industry PositionPrimary Agricultural Product
Raw Material
Market
Dried desi chickpea in Iran sits within a domestic pulse market that is supplied by a mix of local dryland production and imports that balance availability across years. Production is commonly associated with rainfed (dryland) systems, with western/northwestern areas such as Kermanshah frequently cited in research and extension contexts. Trade data indicates Iran participates in two-way regional trade for HS 071320 (dried, shelled chickpeas), importing from suppliers such as India and Turkey while also exporting to neighboring markets such as Pakistan. Country-level water scarcity and drought pressure are a persistent structural constraint for field crops, including pulses, and can translate into supply variability.
Market RoleDomestic producer with two-way trade (both importer and exporter)
Domestic RoleStaple pulse for household consumption and ingredient use in domestic food preparation; supplied by domestic dryland production and imports in deficit years
Specification
Primary VarietyDesi-type chickpea (Cicer arietinum) — dried
Secondary Variety- Kabuli-type chickpea (separate segment in Iran)
Physical Attributes- Low foreign matter and uniform cleaned lots are key for wholesale and retail packing performance.
- Moisture control is critical in storage to reduce mold risk and quality degradation.
Packaging- Bulk bags for wholesale trade and re-packing (commonly woven sacks) and smaller consumer packs for retail (country/channel dependent).
Supply Chain
Value Chain- Farm harvest and drying → threshing → cleaning/sieving → sorting/grading → bagging → warehousing → wholesale distribution → retail or foodservice
- For import: origin cleaning/sorting → bagging → customs/plant-quarantine clearance → domestic warehousing → wholesale distribution
Temperature- Ambient storage is typical, but temperature and humidity management matter to limit condensation and insect activity in warehouses and containers.
Atmosphere Control- Ventilation and moisture management in storage reduce condensation-driven spoilage risk during holding and transport.
Shelf Life- Long shelf life is achievable when kept dry and protected from storage pests; moisture ingress is a primary spoilage trigger.
Freight IntensityMedium
Transport ModeMultimodal
Risks
Regulatory Compliance HighIran-related sanctions and restricted-party exposure can block payments, financing, insurance, or logistics execution for chickpea trade with Iran even when the underlying product is an agricultural commodity.Run buyer/seller/vessel/financial-institution screening, confirm allowable payment and shipping structures under relevant sanctions regimes, and use specialist trade-compliance counsel before contracting.
Climate HighWater scarcity and drought conditions in Iran can drive yield volatility and procurement uncertainty for domestically sourced chickpeas.Diversify sourcing (domestic + import options), use staged procurement, and include quality/availability contingencies in contracts.
Food Safety MediumMoisture ingress and poor storage can create mold and quality deterioration risks for dried chickpeas during warehousing and transit.Specify maximum moisture/foreign matter expectations in contracts, require pre-shipment inspection/COA where feasible, and enforce dry, clean storage and container-lining practices.
Logistics MediumFreight, insurance, and routing constraints linked to Iran’s risk environment can cause shipment delays or higher landed costs for bulk pulses.Work with forwarders experienced in Iran lanes, confirm insurability and acceptable routing in advance, and build buffer time into delivery schedules.
Sustainability- Water scarcity and drought pressure affecting agricultural production stability in Iran (structural constraint for field crops, including pulses).
- Dryland agronomy and conservation agriculture/no-till initiatives are relevant in key chickpea-producing areas (e.g., Kermanshah) as a resilience response.
Labor & Social- Sanctions and human-rights-related restrictions increase compliance burden (restricted-party screening, payment channel constraints) even for agricultural commodities.
FAQ
Does Iran import dried chickpeas (HS 071320), and from which suppliers?Yes. UN Comtrade-derived data presented by the World Bank WITS portal shows imports of dried, shelled chickpeas (HS 071320) into Iran in 2024, with India and Turkey among the listed exporters to Iran.
Does Iran export dried chickpeas (HS 071320), and to which markets?Yes. The World Bank WITS portal (UN Comtrade-derived) shows exports of dried, shelled chickpeas (HS 071320) from Iran in 2024, with Pakistan listed among the importers from Iran.
What HS code is typically used for dried, shelled chickpeas in trade data?The UN Statistics Division HS classification lists HS 071320 for dried, shelled chickpeas (garbanzos), whether or not skinned or split.
Which Iranian authority is associated with plant protection and quarantine controls relevant to phytosanitary matters?Iran’s Plant Protection Organization (PPO) is identified as the country’s plant protection organization (NPPO context) and publishes plant health/quarantine functions and related services on its official website.