Iran traded 85.41 million tons of non-oil commodities worth $46.39 billion with Asia-Pacific countries during the first nine months of the current fiscal year (March 21-Dec. 21) to register a 6.9% and 6.54% decline in tonnage and value respectively compared with last year’s corresponding period.
Latest data released by the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration show Iran’s exports totaled 75.67 million tons worth $28.17 billion during the period, indicating a 5.04% decrease in tonnage and 4.06% increase in value year-on-year.
Imports stood at 9.74 million tons worth $18.22 billion, down 19.21% and 19.26% in tonnage and value respectively YOY.
The United Nations Regional Groups are the geopolitical regional groups of UN member states that are divided into five regional groups: the African Group, with 54 member states, the Asia-Pacific Group, with 53 member states, the Eastern European Group, with 23 member states, the Latin American and Caribbean Group, with 33 member states, the Western European and Others Group, with 28 member states, plus one member state (the United States) as an observer state.
The Asia-Pacific Group (formerly the Asian Group) has 53 members (27.5% of all UN members) and is the second largest regional group by number of member states (one fewer than the African Group). Its territory is composed of much of the continents of Asia and Oceania.
Turkey participates fully in both WEOG and Asia-Pacific Group, but for electoral purposes is considered a member of WEOG only. Therefore it is not included among the nations under review in this report.
Main Commodities, Trading Partners
Iran mainly exported gas condensates, liquefied propane, low-density oils, methanol and liquefied natural gas to the member states of the Asia-Pacific Group.
In exchange, major commodities imported into Iran from the member states included auto parts, semi-milled rice, wholly-milled rice, graphite electrodes used in furnaces, field corn and cellphones.
In terms of trade value, China topped the list among the countries in the Asia-Pacific Group as its bilateral trade with Iran stood at 24.64 million tons worth $14.87 billion, down by 13.03% and 4.55% in tonnage and value respectively YOY.
In fact, China was Iran’s top trading partner in the world during the nine months.
Exports to China amounted to 21.96 million tons worth $6.74 billion to register a 1.83% decline in tonnage and a 5.12% growth in value YOY.
China was Iran’s second biggest export destination among the countries under review as well as in the whole world.
In return, China exported 2.67 million tons of commodities worth $8.12 billion to Iran, down by 21.71% and 11.33% in tonnage and value respectively YOY.
The East Asian nation was the top exporter of goods to Iran among the Asia-Pacific states and also in the world.
Major Iranian commodities exported to China were liquefied propane, polyethylene grade film, methanol, ethylene glycol and liquefied butane.
China was the biggest exporter to Iran and Iraq was the biggest destination of Iranian non-oil products during the period under review
China mainly exported auto parts, graphite electrodes used in furnaces, LCD parts, computer networking devices and machinery to Iran.
The UAE was Iran’s second biggest trading partner among nations in the Asia-Pacific Group during the nine months, as two-way commercial exchanges stood at 13.42 million tons worth $9.18 billion to register a 17.1% and 14.27% decline in tonnage and value respectively YOY.
The UAE was Iran’s second major trading partner in the world during the period.
Iran exported 11.6 million tons of goods worth $5.12 billion to the UAE, down by 13.55% in tonnage and up by 10.76% in value YOY.
The UAE was Iran’s third biggest export destination in Asia-Pacific region as well as in the world during the period.
Iran’s exports to the UAE included gas condensates, mineral oils, low-density oils and copper cathodes.
Iran imported 2.67 million tons of commodities worth $8.12 billion from the UAE, down 34.3% and 33.34% in tonnage and value respectively YOY, most of which included cellphones, steam turbine parts, butter, frozen boneless cow parts and machinery.
The UAE was the second biggest exporter of goods to Iran among the member states as well as in the world.
South Korea was the third major exporter of goods to Iran, after the UAE, in the Asia-Pacific region and also in the world, as Iran imported 676,785 tons worth $1.83 billion from South Korea during the nine-month period, down by 35.79% and 31.74% in tonnage and value respectively YOY.
Iran mainly imported auto parts, vehicles, refrigerator parts, polyurethane and ABS from South Korea.
Mutual trade between Iran and Iraq amounted to 15.54 million tons worth $6.96 billion, indicating a 59.09% and 48.59% increase in tonnage and value respectively YOY.
Iraq was Iran’s third major trading partner among the member states as well as in the world.
Iran’s exports reached 15.48 million tons worth $6.92 billion, up 59.4% and 49.69% in tonnage and value respectively YOY, while Iraq’s exports to Iran were at 58,293 tons worth $35.82 million, up by 4.09% in tonnage and down by 38.61% in value YOY.
Iraq was Iran’s top export destination and the 16th exporter of goods to Iran in the Asia-Pacific region. The country was Iran’s top export destination and 44th exporter to Iran in the world.
Liquefied natural gas, mineral oils, home appliances, household cleaning detergents, iron/steel bars and floorings were Iran’s main goods exported to Iraq, while Iraq exported mainly low-density oils, cans, aluminum alloy, battery waste, non-alloy aluminum and cellphones to Iran.
Trade with Nepal (at $12.77 million), Maldives (at $148,588) and Oman (at $823.67 million) saw the highest YOY growths of 8,729.63%, 294.34% and 78.76% respectively, while trade with Saudi Arabia ($360,397), Yemen ($874,288) and Jordan ($16.97 million) witnessed the lowest declines of 83.66%, 82.88% and 69.40% respectively.
Iran’s exports to Nepal ($12.77 million), Maldives ($148,588) and Cambodia ($42,497) saw the highest growths of 8,729.63%, 294.34% and 147.52% respectively, while exports to Saudi Arabia ($109,063), Yemen ($873,078) and Jordan ($8.53 million) witnessed the highest declines of 86.53%, 82.90% and 79.99% respectively.
Imports from Oman ($231.27 million), Kyrgyzstan ($6.33 million) and Tajikistan ($16.92 million) saw highest growths of 337.02%, 90.77% and 72.97% respectively, while imports from Bahrain ($364,871), Saudi Arabia ($251,334) and Myanmar ($89,260) witnessed the highest declines of 85.64%, 82% and 74.52% respectively.
