International pistachio traders are watching and wondering how Washington’s move will impact export flows from the Middle East nation, and whether it will have a crack at the hitherto closed US market.
The US and Iran, which account for 70-80 per cent of the world’s production, have been vying for the top producer and exporter spot for the past few years as demand — along with other treenuts — has risen thanks to the growing trend for healthier eating around the world.
Chuck Nichols, president of Nichols Farms in California, which grows, processes and ships pistachios, says the Iran issue has been on the US growers’ minds. “People have been thinking about this,” he says.
Iran’s industry executives are confident exports will increase thanks to the sanctions relief. “The transactions will definitely be easier and works are done smoother,” said Mahmoud Abtahi, deputy head of Iran’s Pistachio Association.
“Iran’s pistachio has been exported over 100 years and has secured a foothold in the world market. It is the king of nuts.”
Iran, which has been a pistachio producer since the fifth century BC, managed to regain the position of top producer last year for the first time since 2008, after record crops in the two years to 2015.
In sharp contrast the 2015 harvest in California, which accounts for most of the US output, almost halved to 275m pounds — the lowest in almost a decade — due to adverse weather.
The fall in supply has pushed up Californian pistachios above $5 a pound, allowing Iran to offer discounts to its overseas buyers, especially in China — the largest import market.
Iran has been selling into China between 80 cents to $1 lower than the US product, replacing California as the top exporter, says Richard Matoian, executive director of the American Pistachio Growers.
“We do believe the US will take over as the largest producer in the world and will regain the China market in the future, as early as 2016,” says Mr Matoian.
Europe is another large market where Iran could make inroads thanks to sanctions relief. Although pistachios had not been subject to European sanctions, restrictions on banking and shipping had made trade difficult.
Even with such challenges, “Iranian pistachios have a strong following [in Europe] because of the taste”, says Niel Hyde, a veteran nut trader who is now at Brazil’s cashew processor Iracema.
The key issue for Iranian imports has been the levels of aflatoxin, a poisonous substance caused by mould, and many retailers and nut packers have switched to the Californian variety.
Kees Blokland, trader at Global Trading in the Netherlands, says: “I personally think the pistachios from Iran are more tasty and more flavoursome but the supermarkets will not change that easily.”
Nevertheless, with US pistachio prices having risen steadily for the last eight years, some industry executives expect Iranian pistachios will be fully encouraged to “keep the Californians honest in the short term, if not also the long term”.
The big question is whether Iranians can make inroads into the US. Even before US sanctions were implemented, Iranian pistachio imports were subject to anti-dumping duties of about 300 per cent. With the sanctions removed, a review is to be conducted by the US trade authorities on whether to retain the tariff.
“Our industry will vigorously defend our position” to retain the duties, says Mr Nichols.
Even if the duty is dropped, ambiguity around banking and payment remains, say legal experts. Although various restrictions have been removed, US “primary sanctions” are still in place, which means US citizens are still banned from involvement in commercial dealings with Iran and US banks are still prohibited from clearing dollar transactions related to Iran.
John Whittaker, of UK law firm Clyde & Co, says: “There are a lot of practical and historical issues surrounding Iran sending their nuts to the US, including the clearance of dollar transactions.”
Iranian industry officials acknowledge that things will not change overnight. The country should not expect “a miracle”, says Mr Abtahi.
One main challenge that both pistachio rivals face is the changing weather affecting productivity and water availability.
California’s production was hit by the lack of “chilling hours” or cold days during the 2014 winter, as well as the prolonged drought which has hit groundwater levels. Iran’s pistachio growers, who are mostly private and small-scale farmers, have also suffered water shortages that have raised costs.
Hassan Tabatabaei, a leading pistachio grower, said Iran’s problem was more domestic than international.
“Lifting of sanctions will for 100 per cent bring about stability in transactions, but what is more affecting pistachio production is that precipitation is declining each year,” he says. (ft.com)