Pistachio prices rose to around $4.57 per pound (approximately $10 per kg) in March, according to data from Expana as reported by the Financial Times, marking the highest level since 2018. Demand was further fueled by the global popularity of Dubai chocolate, filled with pistachio cream and shredded pastry, which went viral in 2023.
Iran accounts for about one-fifth of the world's pistachio production and, in some years, 25 to 30 percent of global exports, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Even before the conflict, the market was under pressure as harvests in the U.S., Turkey, and Iran in 2025 fell short of expectations, with Iran's crop hit by drought.
"It's like gambling โ we don't know at what price to sell," said Behnam Heydaripour, CEO of London-based wholesaler Borna Foods. He added that communication with suppliers has been difficult because the internet in Iran is shut down.
The war has further disrupted logistics. Shipping lines have canceled or rerouted services, while exports to the Middle East and India have faced delays and higher costs. Behrooz Agah of the Iran Pistachio Association said the main route via Bandar Abbas port has been severely affected, while alternative routes through Mersin, Suez, and railways to China come with higher costs and complications.