In a surprise move, the federal government of Iraq has announced it will ban the import of juice and beverages as well as ice-cream and pastry from Iran as of June 1, citing a bid to support its domestic producers.
This comes as Iran’s neighboring country had earlier enforced a ban on Iranian cement since April 21, according to a report by Tehran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture.
The Trade Promotion Organization of Iran has notified all Iranian exporters of the new measure in a letter sent to industries, mining and trade organizations and chambers of commerce of all Iranian provinces.
Iraq was the second biggest destination of Iran's non-oil exports in the last Iranian year that ended on March 20, 2019.
Iraq’s imports from Iran last year (March 2018-19) grew by 49% in weight and 37% in value to reach 19.76 million tons worth $8.9 billion.
Iran’s exports to Iraq included liquefied natural gas, mineral oils, household cleaning detergents, low-density oils and tomatoes.
Notably, the rise in Iran's non-oil exports to Iraq saw the highest rise among Iran's 15 neighboring countries last year.
According to Minister of Industries, Mining and Trade Reza Rahmani, Iran was the biggest exporter to Iraq last year.
"This is the first time Iran tops the list of exporters to neighboring Iraq … We need to keep this status using our full potential as our rivals Turkey and China trail closely behind the Islamic Republic," the minister was quoted as saying by IRNA.
With over $1.93 billion, Iraq was the biggest importer of Iran's mineral products last year that.
According to data released by the Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation, a total of 9.67 million tons of different mineral products were exported from Iran to the neighboring country last year.
According to Secretary-General of Iran-Iraq Chamber of Commerce Hamid Hosseini, Iran's mineral exports to Iraq last year mainly included non-precious metals worth $1.13 billion, which experienced a 50% rise compared to the year before.
More specifically, the bulk of Iranian exports included steel products worth over $1 billion as well as copper products worth $71 million.
