An estimated 10.206 million tons of goods were traded in the spot market of Iran Mercantile Exchange (IME) in the last calendar month to November 22.
Compared to the month before, it was down 3.8% in volume, according to IME data. Overall trade was worth 737 trillion rials ($2.11 billion), up 8% on the previous month.
As always, industrial and mineral products topped the list accounting for 81.5% of volume and 60.2% of value, respectively, in the spot market.
More than 8.322 million tons of goods worth 444 trillion rials ($1.27b) changed hands on the industrial/mineral floor.
Cement topped the list with 5.778 million tons followed by steel 1.462 million tons. Other major items were 657,000 tons iron ore, 41,982 tons copper, 35,610 tons aluminum, 338,500 tons sponge iron, 4,740 tons zinc, 1,000 tons molybdenum concentrate, 66 tons precious metal concentrate and 40 kilograms gold ingot.
Trade on the petrochemical and petroleum floor reached 1.767 million tons worth 277 trillion rials ($795 million). This category handled 509,603 tons of bitumen, 394,914 tons polymer, 139,208 tons chemicals, 26,432 tons base oil and 452,000 tons vacuum bottom. It also included 36,575 tons sulfur, 203,100 tons lube cut and 1,100 tons moisture insulation materials.
Deals in the IME Side Market reached 71,779 tons of miscellaneous goods. No deal was reported in the key agriculture floor.
Auto Sales
Auto sale via the exchange was put at 2,416 vehicles of different brands. One thousand Peugeot 207s were sold on Monday within an hour after trade opened.
Truck offers were welcomed by buyers and suppliers managed to sell all 71 vehicles. Some 155 buyers participated in the bid for heavy-duty vehicles.
Heavy-duty trucks were EM Power brand from China assembled by Bahman Motors in Iran. Bahman Motors sold 174 Kara pickups, a popular vehicle in Iran originally produced by Mazda.
Bahman sold 392 Chinese Fidelity SUVs and 192 Dignity cars last month. Two hundred EAMA Lamari cars, the first product of Arian Pars Motors Company, were also sold on Sunday.
Kerman Motor, the largest private automaker in Iran, started offering three models at the IME for the first time. It offered 300 vehicles, including 100 KMC Pickups, 100 JAC S5s and 100 JAC J4 sedans.
However, the move was not welcome as IME data showed that only 130 vehicles were sold, including 64 JAC S5 crossovers and 66 KMC Pickups at the base price. IKCO sold 250 Haima SUVs in the month.
Auto sale was temporarily suspended by the Industries Ministry in late May. It argued that the practice was incompatible with rules to regulate the chaotic auto market and added to volatility.
In July the ministry backtracked and the High Council of Securities and Exchange decided to resume offering selected brands. The SEO has said it intends to offer other models.
