Iranian candy Gaz recouping losses as pistachio prices retreat
Producers of Gaz, a famous candy from Iran’s cultural capital of Isfahan, are recouping losses at a rapid pace thanks to a steep fall in the price of pistachio.
A Thursday report by the IRIB showed that Gaz shops in Isfahan, where over 90 percent of the nougat is produced, were being frequented by customers after more than two years of recession in the industry.
It said retail price for Gaz had decreased by more than 10 percent compared to the last summer, helping sales inside Iran and reviving exports.
A main reason, said the report, was a steep fall in the price of pistachio, a main ingredient of Gaz. Producers believe the price of the red-green kernel could drop to one million rials per kilogram (above eight US dollars) with better harvest expected this year.
That comes as pistachio prices rose to 20 US dollars for each kilogram last summer.
Gaz is as the most popular souvenir item from Isfahan where some 24,000 people are employed in 380 factories and over 1,200 shops selling the product.
Estimates about exports of the candy have varied between 500 to 3,000 tons each year with an income of about $50 million.
The candy has almost 400 years of heritage to itself and reminiscent of the kings who ruled the Safavid empire from Isfahan.
It is mainly popular because it contains abundant amounts of pistachio, a nut for which Iran earns over a billion US dollars in exports each year.
Pistachio prices surged over the past years mainly because of poor harvests in Kerman, an arid region southeast of Iran where nearly 300,000 tons of the nibble is produced each year.
Iran reports slight increase in mining sector exports in April-October
Immunity of Iran’s shipping industry to illegal sanctions
Iran parliament committee approves to lower car import tariffs
US vetoing of Gaza ceasefire resolution ‘disgraceful’: Iran’s UN envoy
VIDEO | IAEA adopts anti-Iran resolution tabled by E3
VIDEO | Iran's president urges Pope to help end Israel's onslaught in Gaza
Iran's senior legal official: ICC arrest warrant for Netanyahu ‘great victory'
Nov. 21: ‘Axis of Resistance’ operations against Israeli occupation
VIDEO | Israeli forces storm West Bank’s Jenin again, target civilians
Iran activates advanced centrifuges after IAEA's 'unjust' resolution
VIDEO | Press TV's news headlines
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
