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Top Saffron Exports & Imports by Country Plus Average Prices

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Saffron flowers with crimson stigmas
Saffron
In 2023, globally exported saffron was worth a total US$214.9 million. Saffron is used mainly for food seasoning, in traditional medicine and as ingredients for fabric dyes and perfumes.

The spice, with its sweet honey and grassy hay-like aroma, is also used in religious ceremonies notably in India.

Worldwide exports of saffron shrank by an average 47.4% since 5 years earlier in 2019 when saffron exports totaled $408.7 million.

Year over year, the dollar value of saffron exports plunged by -36.3% compared to $337.3 million starting from 2022.

Key Geographic Insights for Saffron Exports & Imports

The 5 biggest saffron exporters are Iran, Spain, Afghanistan, Portugal and France. Combined, that leading cohort of international suppliers generated 91% of globally exported saffron sold during 2023.

Applying a continental lens, countries in Asia sold the greatest dollar worth of exported saffron during 2023 with shipments valued at $136.1 million or 63.3% of the world total. In second place were exporters in Europe at 35.9%. Tinier percentages came from North America (0.5%), Africa (0.2%), Latin America plus the Caribbean (0.09%), then Oceania (0.02%) Australia and New Zealand only.

Focusing on saffron imports, the 5 leading importers of saffron in 2023 were Spain, India, mainland China, United States of America, and Italy. That quintet of top buyers bought nearly two-thirds (65.4%) of globally imported saffron by total cost.

Those percentages suggest a more concentrated cohort of 72 saffron exporters in total (91% for top 5 suppliers) compared to some 154 importing countries, islands and territories and the corresponding top 5 importers (65.4%).

From a continental perspective, 49.1% of globally imported saffron was delivered to countries in Europe trailed by importers in Asia (37.7%), North America (9.1%), Latin America (2%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, Oceania (0.8%) led by Australia and New Zealand, then Africa (0.5%).

In 2023, we calculated the worldwide average unit price paid by importers to be $183,941 per ton of saffron. That dollar amount reflects an average 141% in price inflation from the average tonnage rate of $76,330 for 2022.

Saffon is the world’s most valuable exported spice. Its inflated prices are partly due to labor costs since it takes roughly 70,000 hand-picked crocus flowers to produce one pound of saffron (150,000 flowers per kilogram).

For research purposes, the 6-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefix is 091020 for saffron.

Top Saffron Exports by Country

Below are the top 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of saffron during 2023.

  1. Iran: US$89.8 million (41.8% of total saffron exports)
  2. Spain: $55.3 million (25.7%)
  3. Afghanistan: $42.8 million (19.9%)
  4. Portugal: $3.8 million (1.8%)
  5. France: $3.8 million (1.8%)
  6. Netherlands: $3.3 million (1.5%)
  7. Poland: $2 million (0.9%)
  8. Greece: $1.9 million (0.9%)
  9. Italy: $1.5 million (0.7%)
  10. Germany: $1.3 million (0.6%)
  11. Belgium: $1.2 million (0.6%)
  12. Austria: $1 million (0.5%)
  13. United States: $950,000 (0.4%)
  14. Switzerland: $905,000 (0.4%)
  15. Bangladesh: $881,000 (0.4%)

By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 97.9% of globally exported saffron in 2023.

Among the top exporters, the fastest-growing saffron exporters since 2022 were: Bangladesh (up 75.5%), Belgium (up 43.3%), Portugal (up 32.3%) and France (up 25.8%).

Major suppliers that posted declines in their exported saffron sales were: Iran (down -55.5% from 2022), Greece (down -29.2%), Germany (down -23.1%) and the United States of America (down -13.9%).

Top Saffron Imports by Country

The overall spending on imported saffron totaled US$214.7 million falling by -3.9% over the 5-year period starting in 2019 and dropping by -9.1% since 2022.

Below are the 15 best buying markets as measured by the highest dollar value worth of saffron imported during 2023.

  1. Spain: US$45.2 million (21.1% of total saffron imports)
  2. India: $36 million (16.8%)
  3. mainland China: $26.5 million (12.4%)
  4. United States: $18.3 million (8.5%)
  5. Italy: $14.4 million (6.7%)
  6. France: $10.8 million (5%)
  7. Sweden: $7.7 million (3.6%)
  8. United Kingdom: $5.1 million (2.4%)
  9. Germany: $5.1 million (2.4%)
  10. United Arab Emirates: $4.7 million (2.2%)
  11. Portugal: $4.1 million (1.9%)
  12. Switzerland: $3.9 million (1.8%)
  13. Argentina: $3.3 million (1.5%)
  14. Canada: $2.6 million (1.2%)
  15. Saudi Arabia: $2.4 million (1.1%)

By value, the listed 15 countries bought 88.5% of globally imported saffron in 2023.

Among the top importers, the fastest-growing saffron importers since 2022 were: Argentina (up 353.7%), mainland China (up 103.4%), India (up 94.3%) and Germany (up 30.0%).

Foremost buyer countries that posted declines in their imported saffron purchases were led by: Saudi Arabia (down -87.2% from 2022), United Arab Emirates (down -83.2%) and the United States of America (down -8.6%).

Lowest and Highest Unit Prices for Imported Saffron

The world’s average unit price for imported saffron was US$183,941 per ton in 2023, expanding by 141% compared to the average $76,330 per ton for 2022.

The average tonnage charge paid by the number one saffron importer, Spain, was an above-average $558,235 per ton.

Ranked in ascending order, listed below are the countries paying the lowest average unit prices for imported saffron in 2023.

  1. Djibouti: US$01 per ton (2022 data unavailable)
  2. Niger: $500 per ton (up 549.4% from 2022)
  3. Algeria: $1,000 per ton (2022 data unavailable)
  4. Democratic Republic Congo: $1,000 per ton (up 100%)
  5. Trinidad/ Tobago: $1,333 per ton (down -42.9%)
  6. Mauritania: $1,556 per ton (up 133.3%)
  7. Botswana: $1,625 per ton (down -59.4%)
  8. Grenada: $2,000 per ton (down -50%)
  9. Fiji: $2,000 per ton (down -66.7%)
  10. Uganda: $2,000 per ton (2022 data unavailable)
  11. Benin: $2,000 per ton (2022 data unavailable)
  12. Ethiopia: $2,000 per ton (2022 data unavailable)
  13. Antigua/Barbuda: $2,250 per ton (down -25%)
  14. Bahamas: $2,333 per ton (down -86.3%)
  15. Ivory Coast: $2,500 per ton (up 100%)

Enjoying the greatest reductions in average unit price paid per ton for saffron were low-cost importers the Bahamas (down -86.3% from 2022), Fiji (down -66.7%), Botswana (down -59.4%), Grenada (down -50%), then Trinidad and Tobago (down -42.9%).

The following countries paid the highest average unit prices for imported saffron.

  1. United Arab Emirates: US$1,560,333 per ton (up 2286.7% from 2022)
  2. Japan: $1,315,000 per ton (up 13.5%)
  3. Poland: $1,283,000 per ton (up 0.5%)
  4. Saudi Arabia: $1,209,000 per ton (up 110.6%)
  5. Kuwait: $1,022,500 per ton (down -8.7%)
  6. Bahrain: $938,000 per ton (up 95.7%)
  7. Germany: $846,833 per ton (down -35%)
  8. Argentina: $815,500 per ton (up 13.4%)
  9. Hong Kong: $585,000 per ton (down -2.7%)
  10. Spain: $558,235 per ton (down -37.4%)
  11. Taiwan: $521,667 per ton (up 57.4%)
  12. Czech Republic: $512,000 per ton (up 338.9%)
  13. Austria: $489,500 per ton (down -28.7%)
  14. Sweden: $479,750 per ton (down -6.5%)
  15. Switzerland: $432,889 per ton (up 15.8%)

At the forefront in terms of inflated average unit prices paid in 2023 compared to 2022 were the United Arab Emirates (up 2,287%), Czech Republic (up 338.9%), Saudi Arabia (up 110.6%) and Bahrain (up 95.7%).

See also Top Exported Spices by Sales, Weight and Unit Value, Top Turmeric Exports & Imports by Country, Cinnamon Exports by Country, Top Garlic Exports by Country, Top Ginger Exporters and Top Peppermint Exports & Imports by Country

Research Sources:
Alibaba, Saffron Showroom. Accessed on November 20, 2024

Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on November 20, 2024

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on November 20, 2024

Wikipedia, Saffron. Accessed on November 20, 2024