More than $1.9 billion worth of non-oil commodities were exported from the western Kermanshah Province during the first seven months of the current Iranian year (March 21-Oct. 22) to register a 33% growth compared with the similar period of last year.
According to Director General of Kermanshah Customs Office Khalil Heydari, this accounts for 6% of Iran’s total exports over the period, IRNA reported last week.
The exports mainly included plastic dishes, potato products, tomatoes and other agricultural products, as well as tiles and ceramics.
Kermanshah shares 371 kilometers of its border with Iraq. Close to 50% of Iran’s non-oil exports to this neighboring country is carried out though Kermanshah’s six checkpoints and border markets.
Latest data released by the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration show Iraq overtook China as the main non-oil export market for Iran during the period.
According to IRICA, Iran’s exports to Iraq surged by 55% in value and more than 65% in weight to reach $5.73 billion, accounting for 21% of the total value of Iran’s exports during the period.
Iran mainly exports liquefied gas, hydrocarbons, mineral products, fresh or frozen tomatoes and evaporative coolers to Iraq.
According to Secretary-General of Iran-Iraq Chamber of Commerce Hamid Hosseini, as Iraq is beginning to rebuild the wave of destruction left by terrorists, a number of its cities, especially Mosul and Kirkuk can become a suitable market for Iranian construction materials and food products.
"Iraq has six million displaced citizens, four million of whom have returned after Daesh [referring to the self-styled Islamic State terrorist group] was defeated. Iranian products can be the best option to provide for these people, however our share in the markets of Mosul and Kirkuk is relatively low at present and we need to increase it," he told IRNA recently.
