Iran exported $248 million worth of goods to South Africa during the first seven months of the current Iranian year (March 21-Oct. 22), according to the deputy head of Iran-South Africa Merchants Club.
“Imports from the African country during the same period stood at $6.5 million,” Rouhollah Latifi was also quoted as saying by the news portal of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture.
Last fiscal year (ended March 2022), he added, $255 million tons of products were exported from Iran to South Africa with the main product being urea ($218 million).
Latifi, who is a former spokesman of the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration, added that last year, Iran’s imports from South Africa stood at $6.5 million and the main imports were plants and their nectars.
“South Africa is Iran’s biggest export destination in the African Continent. Although exports to this country saw a 100% rise last year, our share in that market is meager and has ample capacity to grow,” he said.
Iran’s total trade with African countries reached 1.89 million tons worth $992.77 million during the period. South Africa was followed by Mozambique with 288,305 tons worth $160.82 million and Sudan with 221,205 tons worth $122.76 million.
Data released by the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration show Iran exported 1.83 million tons of goods worth $933.24 million to the African continent during the period.
Mozambique with 288,305 tons worth $160.82 million and Sudan with 221,123 tons worth $122.34 million came next.
Ivory Coast, Djibouti, Algeria, Egypt, Guinea, Libya, Morocco, Mali, Macao, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Nigeria, Sudan, Senegal, Somalia, Togo, Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa, Zambia, Ethiopia, Algeria, Kenya, Tunisia and Rwanda were other customers of Iranian goods.
This is while imports hit 65,090 tons worth $59.53 million.
Tanzania topped the list of African countries in terms of exports to Iran during the period, as a total of 44,326 tons worth $17.85 million were exported to Iran. It was followed by Kenya with 2,371 tons worth $12.09 million.
Iran’s exports to African countries exceeded $1.19 billion in the last Iranian year (March 2021-22), registering a 107% rise compared with the year before. The volume of exports is a record high, according to director general of the Arab and African Affairs Department of the Trade Promotion Organization of Iran.
According to Farzad Piltan, director general of the department, Iran’s main products exported to Africa during the period were iron and steel ingots, urea, liquid butane and propane, floorings, iron and steel profiles and construction materials.
Piltan noted that a total of $60 million worth of goods were imported from African states during the same period, registering a 37% decline compared with the previous year.
Imports from South Africa, he added, declined by 25% during the period, to reach $6 million.
The main reason for the rise in Iran’s exports to Africa is that Iranian producers and exporters have, in recent years, boosted their market research and marketing to secure footholds in new markets.
“They have also adapted themselves and found new ways of going about trade under economic sanctions,” he said.
“Iran has taken measures to increase the number of commercial delegations it sends and receives to and from African states over the past few years, held many exhibitions and joint economic commissions and entered into talks with private and public sectors in Africa.”
