The Statistical Center of Iran has reviewed changes in prices of commodities exported from and imported to the country in the fiscal 2020-21 (ended March 20).
According to SCI, the Export Price Index, measuring the overall change in prices for goods and services sold abroad, (using the year ending March 2017 as the base year), stood at 1244.2 in the period under review in terms of rial, registering a 155.9% increase compared with the previous year.
The one-year period saw EPI stand at 126.6 in dollar terms, registering a decrease of 3.1% year-on-year.
The Import Price Index, measuring the overall changes in prices of imports of merchandise into a country, stood at 6,667.5 in terms of rial, registering a 475.1% increase compared with the previous year.
The period saw IPI stand at 223.6 in dollar terms, registering a 39.5% increase year-on-year.
Iran’s foreign non-oil trade stood at 145.7 million tons worth $73 billion in the last fiscal year (March 2020-21), according to Mehdi Mirashrafi, the head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration
Exports accounted for 112 million tons worth $34.52 billion and imports constituted 34.4 million tons worth $38.5 billion of the sum.
“The main export destinations were China with 26.6 million tons worth $8.9 billion of imports from Iran, Iraq with 25.6 million tons worth $7.3 billion, the UAE with 15.2 million tons worth $4.6 billion, Turkey with 6.3 million tons worth $2.5 billion and Afghanistan with 7 million tons worth $2.2 billion. These five countries imported more than 80 million tons of non-oil goods worth $25.7 billion,” he was quoted as saying by Mehr News Agency.
Iran’s main exports included gasoline, natural gas, polyethylene, propane and pistachio, of which the latter’s export alone stood at $1.2 billion.
China, Iran’s biggest trading partner, accounted for 26% of Iran's total non-oil exports, as 26.58 million tons of non-oil goods worth $8.95 billion were shipped from Iran to China during the period.
Pistachio, minerals, construction materials, methanol, carpet, iron ore, glassware and fruits were the main types of goods exported from Iran to China in the last fiscal year.
Imports from China totaled 3.54 million tons worth $9.76 billion during the year to March 21, 2021, to account for 10.6% of the total volume of Iran's imports and 25.3% of the total value of imports during the period.
Industrial machinery and raw materials, medical equipment, paper, wood, textile, auto parts and sports equipment were Iran's main imports from the South Asian state in the fiscal 2020-21.
“Iran’s foreign trade declined by 25 million tons due to sanctions and the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said, adding that the country’s trade deficit stood at $4 billion.
