What is the price of saffron per kilogram/pound in US today?
The retail price range for US saffron is between US$ 2,932.20 and US$ 4,398.30 per kilogram or between US$ 1,329.80 and US$ 1,994.69 per pound(lb). Click here to see today's exact prices of saffron in US
The retail price range in Euro for saffron is between EUR 2,690.09 and EUR 4,035.14 per kilogram or between EUR 1,220.00 and EUR 1,829.99 per pound(lb) in Washington and New York.
Wholesale prices
In 2025, the approximate wholesale price range for US saffron is between US$ 2,052.54 and US$ 3,078.81 per kilogram or between US$ 930.86 and US$ 1,396.29 per pound(lb).
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US Saffron Export Prices - Historical, Trends and Prediction
The export price per kilogram of Saffron from the US over the last five years has seen a significant increase. In 2017, the price was 11.87 US dollars per kilogram, and by 2021, it had risen to 30.86 US dollars per kilogram. The highest price was recorded in 2018 at 30.65 US dollars per kilogram, while the lowest was in 2014 at 5.33 US dollars per kilogram. The current price is 28.53 US dollars per kilogram. Based on the current trend, it is predicted that the export price per kilogram of Saffron from the US in 2023 will be around 32.00 US dollars and in 2024 will be around 33.50 US dollars.US Saffron Import Prices - Historical, Trends and Prediction
The import price per kilogram of Saffron into the US over the last five years has been quite volatile. In 2017, the price was $11.87, which was followed by a sharp increase to $30.65 in 2018. This was followed by a slight decrease to $28.80 in 2019 and then a further decrease to $28.53 in 2020. However, the price has been on the rise again in 2021 and 2022, reaching $30.86 and $30.67 respectively. Based on this trend, it is likely that the import price per kilogram of Saffron into the US will continue to increase in 2023 and 2024, with an estimated price of $31.50 and $32.35 respectively.Export values for US saffron
The total values in export for saffron in the US were US$576, US$856, US$861 and US$1104 in US dollar thousand for the years 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 in that order.
Prices of other produce in the Herbs and Spices category in US: Garlic, Pepper, Capsicum (Bell Pepper), Vanilla, Cinnamon, Cloves, Nutmeg, Mace, Cardamom & Anise.
See prices of saffron in other countries across North America: Canada saffron, US saffron, Anguilla saffron, Antigua and Barbuda saffron, Bermuda saffron, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba saffron, St.Pierre and Miquelon saffron, United States Minor Outlying Islands saffron, Cayman Islands saffron & Greenland saffron.
US saffron - Production, Exports, Imports, Seasons and HS Codes
The volume of saffron exported by US in 2020 was 30 tonnes. In 2019 US shipped 20 tonnes of saffron. For the year 2019 alone, the interest in US saffron (herbs and spices category) has improved, recording a change of 17.647 pc compared to the year 2018. Between 2017 and 2019, saffron's exports decreased by -48.72 percent earning US US$0.58m for the year 2019. US' saffron exports are classified as:
- Saffron (HS code 091020)
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US saffron export values
In 2019, US exported saffron worth 0.58m USD, an increase of 11.32% from 2018's total saffron export of 0.521m USD. The yearly change in value of US saffron between 2017 to 2018 was 12.527%.
The annual/yearly variation in the volume of US' saffron exports between 2017 and 2019 was -48.72% when compared to a variation of 17.647% in the growth rate between 2018 and 2019.
Export markets for US saffron ( in '000$ )
US brought in 77 tonnes of saffron in 2019.
Saffron Price Per Pound in the US
Saffron Type | Average Price (Per Pound) |
Retail (Premium Grade) | $1,800–$2,300 |
Retail (Mixed/Standard) | $1,400–$1,800 |
Wholesale | $1,100–$1,500 |
Imported saffron from Iran, the world’s top producer, is generally cheaper but faces heavy regulation. Spanish saffron, particularly from La Mancha, fetches a premium due to protected designation and aroma strength. Kashmiri saffron, prized for its deep crimson hue, remains a rare luxury, commanding the highest price tags in the category.
Why is saffron so highly priced?
Because it takes thousands of threads in the flowers to produce one ounce of saffron, the cost mirrors this effort.
A single flower has only three threads apiece. You have to pick these delicate threads carefully to prevent damage. Harvesting is a laborious process that can take hours before the picked threads can weigh even a single gram.
Saffron is hand-harvested from the Crocus sativus flower — and it takes about 75,000 blossoms to produce a single pound of dried saffron. Each flower blooms for just a few days every year, and only during autumn. The process is entirely manual: workers rise before dawn, pluck the flowers by hand, and delicately remove the three tiny stigmas from each.
But prices aren’t just about tradition. They’re a direct reflection of compounding crises:
Iran, which produces 90% of global saffron, has been hit by droughts and trade restrictions.
Kashmir’s saffron belt has shrunk further due to erratic rainfall and soil degradation.
Labor costs in Spain, where saffron is harvested with near-religious care, have surged in the last two years.
Global demand for natural and luxurious ingredients has gone up, fueled by beauty brands, supplement makers, and a resurgence of home gourmet cooking.
Historical Saffron Price Trends
To understand saffron’s current pricing, you have to look back — not just at inflation, but at the weather, the sanctions, and the shifting winds of global luxury spending.
In 2020, the average US retail price hovered around $1,300–$1,600 per pound, with wholesale dipping to around $1,000. The pandemic era saw a brief slowdown in demand, but that didn't last long.
By 2021, Iran’s currency crisis and export limitations started nudging prices upward. At the same time, Spain saw a sharp drop in yield — a dry spring left saffron farmers with nearly half the normal output.
2022 was the inflection point. Inflation spread across food markets, and saffron — already a niche product — got swept up in the broader cost spike. Prices touched $1,800 retail, with gourmet brands charging as high as $2,200.
Then came 2023–2024, when saffron began appearing more frequently in high-end beauty formulations and boutique health supplements. Demand skyrocketed. Supply didn’t.
In 2025, we’re seeing saffron not just as a spice, but as a global commodity woven into everything from Michelin-star kitchens to face creams priced like gold serums.
Packaging options for US saffron
Shipments of saffron to and fro the US come in protective jars that contain between 2 and 4 grams of saffron. These jars are usually made of hygienic crystalline container material that displays the product in its full glory.
Merchants also offer shapely metal jars that further protect the precious content against spilling in case of a bumpy ride. There are also less ornate but durable packaging materials such as polyethylene and laminated bags that also double as shipping material for other perishables.
Does Saffron Grow in the US?
Yes, small-scale cultivation is ongoing in the northeast US, especially on Rhode Island. Since 2017, family growers in this state have been producing the flowery spice.
However, production is not sufficient and the US continues to rely on international saffron sources including Spain, Afghanistan and India.
Is Saffron Cheaper Online?
Yes — but be cautious. Verified spice companies and certified importers are your best bet. Prices online can be up to 20% lower than in-store, but avoid vague listings, especially those that don’t specify country of origin or include lab results.
Where’s the Cheapest Place to Buy Saffron Online?
Spice Jungle and Amazon (with proper certifications) typically offer the most competitive prices in bulk. Retailers like Heray Spice and Golden Saffron also run seasonal offers. Currently, Kashmiri Mongra saffron, with its thick, deep-red threads, is the priciest on the market