Iran traded 2.17 million tons of non-oil commodities worth $776.04 million with the member states of African states in the last Iranian year (ended March 20, 2019) to register a 21.93% and 26.26% 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 2.08 million tons worth $642.94 million during the year, indicating a 20.88% and 17.05% decline in tonnage and value respectively year-on-year.
Imports stood at 90,384 tons worth $133.09 million, down 40.25% and 52.01% in tonnage and value respectively YOY.
The above figures show Iran recorded $509.85 million in non-oil trade surplus with African states.
The African Group is one of the five Regional Groups in the United Nations. The regional groups are unofficial bodies that act as voting blocs and negotiation forums.
It is the largest group, with 54 members and 28% of the votes in the UN General Assembly and encompasses all the independent countries of its namesake continent.
The United Nations Regional Groups are the geopolitical regional groups of UN member states. There are 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 and the Western European and Others Group with 28 member states, plus 1 member state (the United States) as an observer state.
Main Commodities, Trading Partners
Iran mainly exported semi-finished non-alloy iron/steel products, bitumen, non-alloy iron/steel ingots, liquefied butane and chemicals to member states of the African Group.
In exchange, major commodities imported into Iran from the African Group included pod vegetables, aluminum oxide, fish and sesame seeds.
In terms of total trade value, Egypt topped the list among the members of the African Group with bilateral trade with Iran standing at 504,425 tons worth $220.82 million, down by 32.82% and 14.53% in tonnage and value respectively YOY.
Exports to Egypt amounted to 503,820 tons worth $217.75 million to register a 32.33% and 13.44% decline in tonnage and value respectively YOY.
Egypt was Iran’s top export destination among the countries under review and 22nd in the whole world.
In return, Egypt exported 604 tons of commodities worth $3.06 million to Iran, down by 90.52% and 54.92% in tonnage and value respectively YOY.
Egypt was the ninth exporter of goods to Iran among the African states and 91st in the world.
Major Iranian commodities exported to Egypt were semi-finished non-alloy iron/steel products, non-alloy iron/steel ingots and methanol.
For its part, Egypt mainly exported blades, razors and smoking pipes to Iran.
Kenya was Iran’s second biggest trading partner in the group during the period, as two-way commercial exchanges stood at 289,422 tons worth $98.14 million to register a 5.57% and 16.29% decline in tonnage and value respectively YOY.
Iran exported 286,691 tons of goods worth $86.62 million to Kenya, down by 5.93% and 21.82% in tonnage and value respectively YOY.
Kenya was Iran’s second major export destination among African countries and 32nd in the world during the period.
Iran’s exports to Kenya included bitumen, liquefied butane and polyethylene. It imported 2,731 tons of commodities worth $11.52 million from Kenya, up 59.48% and 78.64% in tonnage and value respectively YOY, which mainly included tea and coffee.
Kenya was the fourth exporter of goods to Iran among the countries under review and 68th exporter to Iran in the world.
South Africa was Iran’s third major trading partner among the states under review.
Mutual trade between Iran and South Africa amounted to 123,807 tons worth $71.56 million, indicating a 58.2% increase in tonnage and 0.24% decrease in value YOY.
Iran’s exports reached 118,716 tons worth $35.92 million, up 65.94% in tonnage and down 4.17% in value YOY, while South Africa’s exports to Iran were at 5,091 tons worth $35.64 million, down by 24.2% in tonnage and up 4.07% in value YOY.
South Africa was Iran’s fourth export destination as well as the top exporter of goods to Iran among African states. The country was Iran’s 44th export destination and 51st exporter to Iran in the world.
Chemicals, urea, floorings and bitumen were Iran’s main goods exported to South Africa that exported chemicals, sesame seeds and steel products in return.
Sudan was Iran’s third export destination in the African Group and 38th in the world, as Iran exported 158,093 tons worth $59.03 million to Sudan during the 12-month period, down by 32.51% and 35.6% in tonnage and value respectively YOY. Iran mainly exported non-alloy semi-finished iron/steel products, bitumen and non-alloy iron/steel ingots to Sudan.
Swaziland was the second top exporter of goods to Iran, after South Africa, and 56th in the world. Iran imported 30,977 tons of commodities worth $24.43 million from Swaziland during the period, down 0.38% and up 16.79% in value YOY. Iran mainly imported aluminum oxide, pesticides, plastic products and air pump parts from Swaziland.
Ethiopia was the third exporter of goods to Iran, after South Africa and Swaziland, and 60th worldwide, as the country exported 19,716 tons of goods worth $22.08 million to Iran, most of which included pod vegetables, sesame seeds and pinto beans. Its exports to Iran went down both in terms of tonnage and value year-on-year by 44.15% and 42.51% respectively.
Highest Growths, Declines in Trade
Trade with Algeria ($215,400), Burkina Faso ($441,639) and Morocco ($34.17 million) saw the highest YOY growths of 310.64%, 163.59% and 82.19% respectively, while trade with Zambia ($1.77 million), Togo ($2.32 million) and Central African Republic ($237,905) witnessed the lowest declines of 97.2%, 96.26% and 96.21% respectively.
Iran’s exports to Rwanda ($413,722), Algeria ($29.19 million) and Ghana ($26.12 million) saw the highest growths of 1,462.98%, 310.65% and 244.02% respectively, while exports to Central African Republic ($1,998), Togo ($2.32 million) and Guinea ($182,513) witnessed the highest declines of 99.97%, 96.26% and 90.55% respectively.
Imports from Kenya ($11.52 million), Swaziland ($24.43 million) and Central African Republic ($35.64 million) saw the highest growths of 78.64%, 16.79% and 4.07% respectively, while imports from Zambia ($1.7 million), Ghana ($9.52 million) and Tanzania ($5.12 million) witnessed the highest declines of 97.29%, 81.8% and 64.02% respectively.
