Iran exported 801,130 tons of agricultural and food products worth $438.6 million in the first month of the current Iranian year (March 21-April 20), new data released by the Agriculture Ministry show.
The figures indicate a decline of 19.48% in tonnage, but a rise of 2.81% in value compared with last year's corresponding period.
Watermelon topped the list of exports in terms of value with $46.54 million, followed by tomato worth $49.78 million, milk powder worth $30.03 million, eggs worth $26.55 million and apples worth $16.96 million.
In terms of tonnage, watermelon topped the list with 221,690 tons, followed by 108,350 tons of tomato, 37,850 tons of apple, 35,230 tons of Persian melon and 29,480 tons of dates.
Agronomic products accounted for 599,540 tons worth $197.95 million of total exports, down 22.44% and 8.25% in terms of tonnage and value respectively.
Horticultural exports amounted to 105,790 tons worth $109.74 million, down 28.21% in terms of tonnage and down 1.06% in value respectively.
Exports of livestock and poultry products reached 85,020 tons worth $105.84 million, up 34.82% in tonnage and up 36.38% in value.
The veterinary sector exported 39 tons of products worth $900,000, up 7.161% and 435.03% in weight and value respectively.
The fisheries sector exported 9,500 tons worth $21.48 million, posting a decline of 9.34% in weight, but a rise of 4.41% in total value respectively.
Exports from the forest and rangeland sector hit 1,230 tons worth $2.68 million, up 22.69% in terms of tonnage and up 2.81% in terms of value, respectively.
Agrifood imports stood at 1.09 million tons worth $767.56 million during the same period, indicating a 38.77% and 34.71% fall in weight and value.
Corn worth $223.04 million had the biggest share of imports in terms of value, followed by different kinds of GM soybeans worth $152.03 million, rice worth $88.98 million, barley worth $44.28 million and banana worth $25.22 million.
In terms of tonnage, corn topped imports with 554,120 tons, followed by GM soybeans with 197,420 tons, barley with 112,320 tons and rice with 77,730 tons and banana with 36,350 tons.
Agronomic products accounted for 1.02 million tons worth $627.63 million of total imports, down 39.06% in weight and down 38.13% in value year-on-year.
Horticultural products stood at 60,390 tons worth $86.02 million, down 31.55% and 14.17% in weight and value YOY, respectively.
Imports of livestock and poultry products hit 6,210 tons worth $25.21 million, down 61.55% and 41.33% in tonnage and value, respectively.
The veterinary sector imported 2,202 tons worth $20.98 million, up 552.15% in tonnage and up 52.54% in terms of value.
Imports by the fisheries sector amounted to 610 tons worth $2.55 million, up 277.14%% and 248.30 in tonnage and value respectively.
The forest and rangeland sector's imports totaled 1,150 tons worth $5.16 million, down 54.5% in tonnage, but up 50.72% in value.
The export and import volumes indicate that Iran recorded an agrifood trade deficit of 293,000 tons in tonnage and $328.96 million in value during the period under review.
Fiscal 2022-23 in Review
Iran registered more than 17 million tons worth $13 billion in agricultural and food trade deficit in the last Iranian year that ended on March 20, 2023.
Exports stood at 7.77 million tons worth $5.21 billion, indicating a fall of 8.93% in tonnage and 2.29% in value compared with the year before.
Pistachio topped the list of exports in terms of value with $405.04 million, followed by dates with $315.48 million, tomato worth $314.72 million, milk powder worth $310.68 million and saffron worth $244.22 million.
In terms of tonnage, watermelon topped the list with 886,740 tons, followed by 678,600 tons of tomato, 625,820 tons of apple, 395,330 tons of onion, shallot and garlic, and 363,760 tons of dates.
Agrifood imports stood at 25.21 million tons worth $18.39 billion in the last Iranian year (March 2022-23), indicating a 17.47% fall in weight but a 7.45% increase in value.
Corn worth $3.26 billion had the biggest share of imports in terms of value, followed by different kinds of vegetable oil worth $2.53 billion, rice worth $21.33 billion, wheat worth $2.01 billion and GM soybeans worth $1.97 billion.
In terms of tonnage, corn topped imports with 8.08 million tons, followed by wheat with 4.45 million tons, followed by GM soybeans with 2.54 million tons, barley with 2.37 million tons and rice with 1.77 million tons.
