An Exploratory Analysis of Preferential Exchange Rate Removal and Export Competitiveness in Iran's Pistachio Industry: Evidence and Data Limitations

This study explores the relationship between the removal of Iran's preferential exchange rate policy and the export competitiveness of the pistachio industry, using secondary data from official national and international sources covering 2018–2025. Due to substantial gaps in Iran's trade-data reporting during this period, a full multiple regression model could not be estimated with the available data. Descriptive statistics and a bivariate correlation analysis were instead used to examine patterns in exchange rate movements, export values, and domestic demand around the 2022 policy change. The limited available evidence is consistent with, though does not statistically confirm, higher production costs and reduced export competitiveness following the reform. The study highlights both the economic challenges facing export-oriented agricultural sectors during exchange rate liberalization and the broader data-transparency constraints facing empirical research on Iran's trade sector, and offers recommendations for future research once more complete data become available.