A total of 1.87 million tons of different kinds of livestock feed worth $887 million were imported to Iran during the first two months of the current calendar year (March 21-May 21), according to the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration.
The figures registered a 20% (or 291,000 tons) increase in weight and a 20% (or $148 million) rise in value compared with the same period of last year.
This was the first rise in livestock feed import since the first month of last Iranian year (March 21-April 20, 2022), IRNA reported.
Austria, Spain, Slovakia, the UAE, Britain, Germany, Turkey, Switzerland, China, Oman, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Hong Kong were the 14 exporters to Iran during the period.
Feed corn accounted for the biggest share of imports with 1.31 million tons worth $536 million, registering a respective rise of 39% and 57% in weight and value.
Soybean came next with 290,916 tons worth $227 million to register a 20% drop in weight and a 16% fall in value.
Barley imports stood at 207,410 tons worth $80.75 million, registering a 39% increase in weight and a 40% growth in value.
A total of 61,000 tons of soymeal worth $43 million were imported into the country during the period. Imports stood at 122,000 tons worth $69 million during last year’s corresponding period.
Imports of livestock feed declined by 19% (or 3.2 million tons) to stand at 14.37 million tons in the fiscal 2022-23.
Presently, 75% of the domestic need for livestock feed is met by imports and 25% through local production, IRNA noted.