

Ranked in ascending order, listed below are the countries paying the lowest average unit prices for imported saffron in 2021. The average tonnage charge paid by the number one saffron importer, mainland China, was an above-average $310,255 per ton. In 2021, the world’s average unit price for imported saffron was US$132,531 per ton.

Lowest and Highest Unit Prices for Imported Saffron Those countries that posted declines in their imported saffron purchases were led by: Hong Kong (down -68.6%), Oman (down -50.5%), Sweden (down -21%), Saudi Arabia (down -20.8%) and Kuwait (down -19.1%). United Arab Emirates: $12.8 million (5.3%)īy value, the listed 15 countries bought 84.2% of globally imported saffron in 2021.Īmong the top importers, the fastest-growing saffron importers since 2020 were: mainland China (up 183.7%), Qatar (up 54.1%), Germany (up 21.6%) and the United States of America (up 16%).China: US$31.6 million (13.2% of total saffron imports).The overall spending on imported saffron totaled $239.7 million falling by -8.1% over the 5-year period starting in 2017 and dropping -12.1% since 2020.īelow are the 15 best buying markets as measured by the highest dollar value worth of saffron imported during 2021. Those countries that posted declines in their exported saffron sales were led by: Oman (down -56.6%), Iran (down -18.8%), Afghanistan (down -9.3%), Spain (down -8.7%) and France (down -7.7%). United Arab Emirates: $10.3 million (3.6%)īy value, the listed 15 countries shipped 97% of globally exported saffron in 2021.Īmong the top exporters, the fastest-growing saffron exporters since 2020 were: Nigeria (up 561%), Hong Kong (up 48.8%), Greece (up 45.1%) and United Kingdom (up 39%).Iran: US$154.3 million (53.6% of total saffron exports).Top Saffron Exports by Countryīelow are the top 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of saffron during 2021.
#Saffron export countries code#
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).įor research purposes, the 6-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefix is 091020 for saffron. Saffon is the world’s most valuable exported spice. That dollar amount reflects a 35% price inflation from the average tonnage rate of $98,1.

In 2021, the worldwide average unit price paid by importers was $132,531 per ton of saffron. Those percentages suggest a more concentrated cohort of 78 saffron exporters in total (89.3% for top 5 suppliers) compared to some 150 importing countries, islands and territories and the corresponding top 5 importers (51.6%).įrom a continental perspective, 54.7% of globally imported saffron was delivered to countries in Asia trailed by importers in Europe (34%), North America (8.4%) then Latin America (1.6%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, Oceania led by Australia (0.8%) than Africa (0.5%). That quintet of top buyers bought just over half (51.6%) of globally imported saffron by total cost.
#Saffron export countries plus#
Tinier percentages came from Africa (0.5%), North America (0.3%), Latin America plus the Caribbean (0.07%), then Oceania (also 0.07%) mostly Australia and New Zealand.įocusing on saffron imports, the 5 leading importers of saffron in 2021 were mainland China, Spain, Saudi Arabia, India and the United States of America. In second place were exporters in Europe at 24%. Combined, that leading subgroup of international suppliers generated 89.3% of globally exported saffron sales during 2021.Īpplying a continental lens, countries in Asia sold the greatest dollar worth of exported saffron during 2021 with shipments valued at $215.7 million or three-quarters of the world total. The 5 biggest saffron exporters are Iran, Spain, Afghanistan, United Arab Emirates and Greece.

Key Geographic Insights for Saffron Exports & Imports Year over year, the dollar value of saffron exports sank by -11.7% compared to $325.7 million in 2020. Worldwide exports of saffron shrank by an average -35.6% since 2017 when saffron exports totaled $446.5 million. The spice, with its sweet honey and grassy hay-like aroma, is also used in religious ceremonies notably in India. Saffron is used mainly for food seasoning, in traditional medicine and as ingredients for fabric dyes and perfumes. Saffron In 2021, globally exported saffron was worth a total US$287.7 million.
