Iranian fresh fruit exporters: kiwi, citrus, apples, watermelon and grapes

Iran exports fresh kiwi and citrus from its Caspian provinces, apples from the north-west, watermelon from the warm south and grapes from Qazvin, Hamadan and Khorasan. Because the climate ranges from subtropical to cold highland, some fresh fruit is in season almost every month. Fresh fruit is a perishable trade, so agree variety, size, packing, reefer temperature and the phytosanitary certificate in writing, and pay through escrow that releases the money only after you confirm receipt.

165 listings on ASL Market now, usually $0.13–$20.00 per piece.

Seasons and growing regions

The table shows the usual harvest windows and main producing areas. Exact timing moves by a few weeks with weather and altitude, and cold storage extends the selling season for kiwi and apples.

Fruit	Main producing areas	Usual harvest	Usual export window
Kiwi (mainly Hayward)	Mazandaran, Gilan	October–November	October to spring, from cold storage
Oranges (incl. Thomson navel), tangerines	Mazandaran, Golestan; Jiroft (Kerman), Fars, Hormozgan in the south	November–March	November–April
Apples (Red and Golden Delicious and others)	West and East Azerbaijan, Isfahan (Semirom), Tehran province	September–October	September to spring, from cold storage
Watermelon	Southern provinces such as Hormozgan, Kerman, Sistan and Baluchestan, Khuzestan; later the north	Spring in the south, summer elsewhere	About March–September
Table grapes	Qazvin (Takestan), Hamadan (Malayer), Khorasan, West Azerbaijan	August–October	August–November

Specifications to agree before you order

Variety and size: kiwi by fruit weight or count per tray, citrus and apples by diameter or count per carton.
Class or grade: firmness, colour, skin defects, bruising, decay tolerance. Many buyers use UNECE or Codex fresh produce standards as a reference.
Brix or maturity: kiwi harvested at a minimum soluble-solids level stores and ripens better; ask the exporter for the harvest Brix.
Packing: carton weight, trays or bulk, labels, pallet type and number of pallets per container.
Cold chain: harvest date, cold storage history and the set temperature of the reefer.
Treatments: wax, fungicide or other post-harvest treatments must be allowed in your market and declared.

Reefer settings, packing and HS codes

The figures below are typical industry settings. Your forwarder and the shipping line confirm the final set point, ventilation and humidity for each load.

Fruit	Typical reefer temperature	Usual packing	HS code (6-digit)
Kiwi	About 0 °C, high humidity	Trays or cartons of about 3–10 kg	0810.50
Oranges	About 3–8 °C depending on variety	Cartons of about 10–15 kg	0805.10
Tangerines and mandarins	About 4–7 °C	Cartons of about 8–10 kg	0805.21 / 0805.29
Apples	About 0–1 °C	Cartons of about 15–20 kg or bins	0808.10
Watermelon	About 10–15 °C	Bulk in trucks or bins, cartons for small types	0807.11
Table grapes	About 0 °C, high humidity	Cartons of about 4–8 kg, often with SO2 pads	0806.10

Logistics: reefer routes from Iran

Reefer containers ship by sea from Bandar Abbas (Shahid Rajaee port), often with transshipment via Jebel Ali for the Gulf, South Asia and beyond. Reefer trucks serve Iraq, Turkey, the South Caucasus, Afghanistan and Central Asia.

For Russia, fruit moves through the Caspian ports such as Anzali and Amirabad, by road via Azerbaijan, or along the INSTC corridor. Transit time matters more than freight cost for fresh fruit, so agree a ship-by date and route in writing. See /guides/shipping-routes-from-iran. Import rules differ by country; check your own country's rules on trade with Iran before you order.

Documents and inspection

Every fresh fruit shipment needs a phytosanitary certificate issued by Iran's Plant Protection Organization, plus a commercial invoice, packing list and certificate of origin. Some markets also require pesticide residue analysis or pre-registration of the exporter.

Because fruit can lose value in days, many importers book an independent pre-shipment inspection to check size, defects and temperature at loading. ASL Market does not physically inspect goods. See /guides/pre-shipment-inspection-iran and /guides/food-certificates-from-iran.

MOQ and what drives price

Fresh fruit is usually sold by the full reefer container or full truck, and some exporters offer mixed loads of compatible fruit, such as apples with kiwi, that need similar temperatures. Price depends mostly on variety, size, class, season, cold storage time, packing and the Incoterm. Early-season and late-season fruit from storage usually costs more than mid-season fruit.

How to buy fresh fruit on ASL Market

Browse listings in /categories/asl_agriculture_food and chat with exporters. Messages go through ASL Market, so contact details stay private. For a seasonal programme, post a buying request at /post-request with fruit, size, packing, quantity per week and destination.

The supplier confirms price, quantity, freight, Incoterm and ship-by date before you pay. Payment is in USDT today; more payment methods are coming soon. ASL Secure Pay holds the money until you confirm receipt, and receipt is confirmed automatically after a set period if you neither confirm nor dispute. In a dispute, ASL Market decides, and a partial refund is possible. See /trade-assurance.

Listings

Grade 1 Apples — ≈ $6.00 / piece
Natural Sour Orange Paste — ≈ $19.00 / pack
Bitter Orange Blossom — ≈ $30.00 / kg
Sarab Yellow Potatoes — ≈ $2.00 / kg
Faraz French Fries — ≈ $9.00 / kg
Premium Orange Blossom Water — ≈ $20.00 / piece
Premium Fresh Grapes — ≈ $3.00 / piece
Grape Raisins — ≈ $8.00 / kg
Fresh Apples — ≈ $15.00 / piece
Organic Orange Blossom Honey — ≈ $18.00 / piece
Fresh Potatoes — ≈ $2.00 / piece
Dried Bitter Orange Blossom — ≈ $20.00 / piece

FAQ

When is Iranian kiwi available for export?

Kiwi is harvested in Mazandaran and Gilan in October and November. Stored fruit usually ships from October into spring. Ask for the harvest date and harvest Brix, because they affect storage life.

What Iranian fruit is available in summer?

Watermelon, melons and table grapes are the main summer fruit, with grapes from August. Stored apples can also be available in early summer in some years. Check live listings for current offers.

Can I order a mixed fruit container?

Some exporters load mixed containers, but only fruit with similar temperature needs should travel together. Apples and kiwi are often combined, while citrus and watermelon need warmer settings. Agree the mix and set point in writing.

Which certificate is required for fresh fruit from Iran?

A phytosanitary certificate from Iran's Plant Protection Organization is needed for almost every market. You will also need a commercial invoice, packing list and certificate of origin. Some countries add residue tests or importer registration.

How long does fresh fruit take to reach the Gulf or Russia?

Road and short-sea routes to neighbouring markets usually take days, and Caspian or INSTC routes to Russia take longer. Exact transit depends on route, border waiting time and season, so agree the route with the supplier.

What happens if fruit arrives damaged?

Record the condition on arrival with photos and a temperature log, and open a dispute before you confirm receipt. ASL Market decides disputes, and a partial refund is possible. An independent inspection report from loading helps show the condition at departure.