Iran’s foreign non-oil trade stood at $3.58 billion in the month ending April 19, indicating a 27% decline compared with the same period of last year but China still remains to be the country's biggest trade partner despite the surge in the coronavirus pandemic.
A total of 5.34 million tons of non-oil goods worth $1.65 billion were exported during the one-month period, registering a 39% and 36% decline in weight and value respectively.
Imports hit 2.52 million tons worth $1.93 billion, posting a 21% increase in weight but a 17% decrease in value year-on-year.
Iran’s trade deficit stood at $279 million over the month under review, the Persian-language economic daily Donya-e-Eqtesad reported.
Oil-based products and byproducts as well as petrochemical products are included in the Islamic Republic of Iran's Customs Administration's "non-oil" export data. In fact, petrochemicals and gas condensates constitute the greater share of total exports.
China was Iran’s main export destination during the period with more than $523 million, accounting for nearly 32% of Iran’s total exports.
The UAE overtook Iraq as Iran’s second export destination. The country imported $355 million worth of non-oil goods from Iran to account for 21.5% of Iran’s overall exports.
Exports to Iraq hit $259 million; the neighboring country accounted for 16% of Iran’s total exports.
With imports worth $125 million, Afghanistan accounted for 7.5% of Iran’s one-month total exports. It was followed by Turkey with imports worth $72 million and a share of 4% from overall exports.
China was also the biggest source of imports, as $399 million worth of non-oil goods were imported to Iran last month, accounting for 21% of Iran’s total imports.
The UAE with $394 million and a share of 20%, Turkey with $246 million and a share of 13% and India with $164 million and a share of 8% followed.
The Netherlands overtook Germany as Iran’s fifth trading partner in imports during the first fiscal month (started March 20). The European country exported $108 million worth of non-oil goods to account for 5.5% of Iran’s total imports.