TEHRAN: Iran’s non-oil foreign trade during the 10 months of the current Iranian year (started March 20, 2016) stood at $70.25 billion, indicating a 5.8% increase compared with the corresponding period of last year. According to the latest report by the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration, Iran exported $35.27 billion worth of non-oil commodities during the period, registering an 8.37% rise year-on-year. The country imported $34.98 billion worth of goods during the period, up 3.21% year-on-year. The figures point to a $288 million surplus in Iran’s international trade in the 10 months to January 19, 2017.
IRICA’s data put the weight of exports and imports at 102.04 million and 27.55 million tons respectively, registering a 33.76% and 2.87% growth respectively. Gas condensates were Iran’s main exported commodity ($6.02 billion), making up for 17.08% of the total non-oil export figure. They were followed by natural liquefied gases ($1.95 billion), light crude oil, excluding gasoline ($1.34 billion), petroleum gases and liquefied hydrocarbons ($1.06 billion) and liquefied propane ($990 million). The imported commodities mainly included field corn ($1.16 billion), soybean ($774 million), auto parts ($666 million), motor vehicles with engine displacement of 1,500-2,000cc ($626 million), and motor vehicles with engine displacement of 2,000-2,500cc ($536 million).
China was the main customer of Iranian products in the 10-month period as Iran exported $6.54 billion worth of non-oil goods to the Asian country, 9.53% more compared with last year’s similar period. Other major export destinations included the UAE with $5.66 billion, Iraq with $5.39 billion, Turkey with $2.81 billion and South Korea with $2.56 billion worth of Iranian goods imported. Major exporters to Iran included China ($8.4 billion), the UAE ($5.48 billion), South Korea ($2.78 billion), Turkey ($2.19 billion) and Germany ($1.96 billion). Imports from China, the UAE, South Korea and Turkey fell by 1.27%, 11.47%, 8.74% and 10.99% respectively. However, imports from Germany experienced a 36.39% rise year-on-year.
