Iran traded 5.13 million tons of non-oil commodities worth $3.03 billion with member states of the United Nations’ Eastern European Group in the last Iranian year (ended March 20) to register a 16.16% and 20.94% growth 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 2.63 million tons worth $1.25 billion during the period, indicating a 0.04% and 0.09% increase in tonnage and value respectively year-on-year.
Imports stood 2.5 million tons worth $1.78 billion, up 0.33% and 0.31% in tonnage and value respectively YOY.
The Eastern European Group, also known as Countries with Economies in Transition (CEIT), is one of the five unofficial regional groups in the UN thact as voting blocs and negotiation forums.
Regional voting blocs were formed in 1961 to encourage voting to various UN bodies from regional groups. The group consists of countries in Eastern Europe, the Balkans, the Baltics, Central Europe and the Caucasus, which form the area of the former Eastern Bloc.
Europe is divided between EEG and Western European and Others Group. The group currently has 23 members.
UN member states 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.
Main Commodities, Trading Partners
Iran mainly exported liquefied natural gas, kiwi, pistachios, bitumen, polyethylene grade film, polystyrene, apples and tomatoes to Eastern European.
In exchange, major commodities imported into Iran from the member states included nuclear reactor parts, sunflower oil, field corn, barley, sheep carcasses and radio navigation devices.
In terms of total trade value, Russia topped the list among the countries in Eastern Europe with Iran trade standing 2.67 million tons worth $1.62 billion, up by 41.48% and 59.13% in tonnage and value respectively YOY.
Exports to Russia amounted to 499,802 tons worth $280.53 million to register a 4.98% and 4.07% decline in tonnage and value respectively YOY.
Russia was Iran’s second export destination among the countries under review and 14th in the whole world.
In return, Russia exported 2.17 million tons of commodities worth $1.34 billion to Iran, up by 59.39% and 84.52% in tonnage and value respectively YOY.
The world’s largest nation was the top exporter of goods to Iran in the Eastern European Group and eighth in the world.
Major Iranian commodities exported to Russia were kiwi, tomatoes, apples and pistachios.
Russia mainly exported nuclear reactor parts, sunflower oil, field corn and barley to Iran.
Azerbaijan was Iran’s second biggest trading partner in EEG during the 12 months, as two-way commercial exchanges stood 875,771 tons worth $431.44 million to register an 11.87% and 22.25% growth in tonnage and value respectively YOY.
Iran exported 823,825 tons of goods worth $410.61 million to Azerbaijan, up by 15.56% and 26.06% in tonnage and value respectively YOY.
Azerbaijan was Iran’s top export destination in EEG and 12th in the world during the period.
Iran’s exports to Azerbaijan included liquefied natural gas, potatoes and chemicals.
Iran imported 51,945 tons of commodities worth $20.82 million from Azerbaijan, down 25.72% and 23.46% in tonnage and value respectively YOY, a majority of which were oilcake, non-alloy semi-finished iron/steel products, barley and chemicals.
Azerbaijan was the 11th exporter of goods to Iran among EEG states and 61st exporter to Iran in the world.
Georgia was Iran’s third major trading partner among the member states.
Mutual trade between Iran and Georgia amounted to 523,800 tons worth $230.42 million, indicating a 61.28% and 45.99% increase in tonnage and value respectively YOY.
Iran’s exports reached 493,740 tons worth $161.52 million, up 74.76% and 77.17% in tonnage and value respectively YOY, while Georgia’s exports to Iran were 30,060 tons worth $68.9 million, down by 28.84% in tonnage and up by 3.36% in value YOY.
Georgia was Iran’s third export destination as well as the third exporter of goods to Iran in the region. The country was Iran’s 25th export destination and 40th exporter to Iran in the world.
Bitumen, iron/steel bars and pistachios were Iran’s main goods exported to Georgia, while Georgia exported mainly sheep carcasses, wood and yarn to Iran.
Ukraine was the second major exporter of goods to Iran, after Russia, in EEG and 37th in the world, as Iran imported 174,373 tons worth $81.46 million from Ukraine during the period, down by 27.56% and 50.31% in tonnage and value respectively YOY.
Iran mainly imported sunflower oil, field corn, steam turbine parts and rail equipment from Ukraine.
Highest Growths, Declines in Trade
Trade with Russia ($1.62 billion), Georgia ($230.42 million) and Croatia ($6.73 million) saw the highest YOY growths of 59.13%, 45.99% and 39.75% respectively, while trade with Lithuania ($4.27 million), Ukraine ($112.91 million) and Hungary ($26.31 million) witnessed the lowest declines of 68.75%, 41.64% and 37.07% respectively.
Iran’s exports to Croatia ($3.65 million), Georgia ($161.52 million) and Bulgaria ($70.08 million) saw the highest growths of 181.33%, 77.17% and 57.6% respectively, while exports to Lithuania ($2.18 million), Slovenia ($7.42 million) and Czech Republic ($2.75 million) witnessed the highest declines 74.72%, 50.09% and 48.71% respectively.
Imports from Russia ($1.34 billion), Serbia ($14.31 million) and Latvia ($3.67 million) saw the highest growths of 84.52%, 19.64% and 16.72% respectively, while imports from Lithuania ($2.09 million), Ukraine ($81.46 million) and Hungary ($22.09 million) witnessed the highest declines of 58.56%, 50.31% and 43.34% respectively.
