Non-oil exports in the first four months of the current Iranian year (started March 20) earned $16.3 billion, which indicates a 21.11% rise compared with the corresponding period of the last year, according to the latest report by the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration. Imports stood at $12.86 billion during the same period, indicating a 7.12% drop. According to IRICA, the country has registered the biggest surplus of $4 billion in non-oil trade in recent years. In terms of weight, exports stood at 41.161 million tons, showing a 36.37% rise while imports amounted to 9.95 million tons to record a 12.79% decrease. Petrochemical products were among the main exported commodities with 13.43 million tons worth $5.679 billion. Imports included rice ($475 million or 3.7% of the overall imports), field corn ($335 million or 2.6%), soybean ($315 million or 2.45%), soybean meal ($240 million or 1.87%) and auto parts ($227 million or 1.77%). China, the UAE, South Korea, Turkey and India were main importers to Iran during the period. The report did not mention the list of export destinations.
