Iran’s foreign trade, excluding crude oil exports, reached 36 million tons worth $25.5 billion in the first quarter of the current fiscal year (March 21-June 21), according to Alireza Moqaddesi, the head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration.
Exports hit 27.7 million tons worth 13.07 billion, registering a 21% year-on-year rise.
China with $4.21 billion, Iraq with $1.82 billion, Turkey with $1.74 billion, the UAE with $1.65 billion and India with $424 million were Iran’s top five export destinations during the period, IRNA reported.
Imports hit 8.15 million tons worth $12.46 billion, registering an 18% year-on-year rise.
The main exporters to Iran were the UAE with $3.43 billion, China with $3.13 billion, Turkey with $1.27 billion, India with $512 million and Germany with $456 million.
The above statistics indicate that Iran registered $605 million in trade surplus in Q1 2022-23.
Moqaddesi added that 3.67 million tons of foreign goods were transited via Iran during the period, registering a 32% year-on-year growth.
Iran reportedly earns $150 and $50 for each ton of transit goods via road and rail respectively.
Iran’s foreign trade, excluding crude oil exports, stood at 162 million tons worth $100 billion in the fiscal 2021-22, registering a 38% rise in value compared with the year before.
“Exports stood at 122 million tons worth $48 billion, registering a 41% increase in value compared with the previous year. Iran’s top five export destinations were China, Iraq, Turkey, the UAE and Afghanistan,” he added.
Imports hit 40 million tons worth $52 billion during the same period, registering a 21% and 36% growth in weight and value respectively. The UAE, China, Turkey, Germany and Russia were the main exporters.
Moqaddesi noted that the imports mainly included essential goods, raw materials and production line machinery.
Also known as necessity or basic goods, essential goods are products consumers will buy, regardless of changes in income levels.
Iran’s essential goods imports in the fiscal 2021-22 included corn, unrefined vegetable oil, pharmaceutical and medical equipment, wheat, oilseeds, soymeal, barley, rice, sugar, heavy vehicle tires, fertilizer, pesticide and insecticide, veterinarian medicine, red meat, chicken, eggs, pulses and tea.
