Iran traded 131,859 tons of non-oil commodities worth $43.52 million with the African states during the first Iranian month (March 21-April 20) to register a 4.96% growth in tonnage and a 19.47% decline in value compared with last year’s corresponding month.
Latest data released by the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration show Iran’s exports totaled 129,740 tons worth $42.05 million during the month to April 20, indicating a 5.52% increase in tonnage and a 15.84% decrease in value year-on-year.
Imports stood at 2,119 tons worth $1.46 million, down 21.04% and 64% in tonnage and value respectively YOY.
The above figures show Iran recorded a non-oil trade surplus of $40.59 million 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. The group is the largest, with 54 members and 28% of the votes in the UN General Assembly and encompasses all the independent countries of its namesake continent.
UN member states are divided into five regional groups: the African Group with 54 member states, the Asia-Pacific Group with 53, the Eastern European Group with 23, the Latin American and Caribbean Group with 33, the Western European and Others Group with 28 and one member state (the United States) as an observer state.
Main Commodities, Trading Partners
Iran mainly exported non-alloy iron/steel ingots, semi-finished non-alloy iron/steel products, bitumen, urea, raisins and direct-reduced iron to the members of African Group.
In exchange, major commodities imported into Iran from the African Group included pod vegetables, manganese and chemicals.
In terms of trade value, Ghana topped the list among the members of African Group with bilateral trade, which only included Iran’s exports to Ghana as Iran did not have any imports from Ghana during the month, standing at 86,163 tons worth $29.58 million, up by 14,559% and 7,801% in tonnage and value respectively YOY.
Ghana was Iran’s top export destination among the countries under review and 12th in the whole world.
Major Iranian commodities exported to Ghana were non-alloy iron/steel ingots and semi-finished non-alloy iron/steel products.
Kenya was Iran’s second biggest trading partner among the members during the month as commercial exchanges, which only included Iran’s exports to Kenya as the country did not have any imports from Kenya, stood at 11,711 tons worth $3.66 million to register a 55.87% and 68.09% decline in tonnage and value respectively YOY.
The country was Iran’s second major export destination among African countries and 34th in the world during the period.
Iran’s exports to Kenya included bitumen and hot-rolled steel bars.
Mozambique was Iran’s third major trading partner among the states under review.
Trade between Iran and Mozambique, which only included Iran’s exports to Mozambique as Mozambique did not have any exports to Iran during the month, amounted to 14,900 tons worth $2.58 million, indicating a 594.66% and 19.56% increase in tonnage and value respectively YOY.
Mozambique was Iran’s third export destination among African states. The country was Iran’s 36th export destination in the world.
Urea was Iran’s export to Mozambique.
Ethiopia was the top exporter of goods to Iran and 59th in the world. Iran imported 480 tons of commodities worth $733,281 from Ethiopia during the period, down 53.49% and 42.49% in tonnage and value respectively YOY. Iran mainly imported pod vegetables from Ethiopia.
Tanzania was the second biggest exporter of goods to Iran, after Ethiopia, and 63rd in the world. Iran imported 1,461 tons of commodities worth $404,273 from Tanzania during the month, up 447.22% and 579.74% in tonnage and value respectively YOY. Iran mainly imported manganese from Tanzania.
Tunisia was the third exporter of goods to Iran, after Ethiopia and Tanzania, during the month and 75th worldwide, as the country exported 16 tons of goods worth $101,627 to Iran, most of which included chemicals. Tunisia’s exports to Iran went down in tonnage by 83.34% and up in value by 35.52% YOY.
