Iran’s total foreign trade, excluding crude oil exports, reached 25 million tons worth $15.45 billion during the first two months of the current fiscal year (March 21-May 21), according to Mohammad Rezvanifar, the head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration.
Exports (excluding crude oil) hit 21 million tons worth $7.51 billion, registering a 12.26% rise in terms of tonnage, but a 13.72% fall in value compared with the similar period of last year, the news portal of IRICA reported.
Liquefied propane worth $592 million, liquefied natural gas worth $538 million, liquefied butane worth $411 million, methanol worth $374 million and bitumen worth $350 million were the main exported products during the period, together accounting for 30% of the total value of exports.
China with $2.41 billion, Iraq with $1.22 billion, Turkey with $835 million, the UAE with $749 million and India with $331 million were the top five export destinations.
Imports stood at 4.73 million tons worth $7.94 billion, registering an 8.7% and 4.79% fall in weight and value respectively.
The main imported products during the period were field corn worth $536 million, smartphones worth $247 million, GM soybeans worth $227 million, knocked-down parts for automobile production (tariff line 8703, excluding tires) worth $209 million and rice worth $206 million, together accounting for 15% of the total value of exports.
China with $2.39 billion, the UAE with $2.31 billion, Turkey with $903 million, Germany with $288 million and Russia with $269 million were the main exporters to Iran during the period.
The export/import data show Iran registered a trade deficit of $428 million during the period under review.
Rezvanifar noted that a total of 2.32 million tons of foreign goods were transited through Iran during the period, registering a 5.38% year-on-year decline.