Iran’s Agro Trade Deficit Narrows

Iran’s trade deficit in the agriculture sector during the 10 months to January 19, 2017, narrowed by $308 million over last year’s corresponding period to stand at $2.47 billion. According to Abdolmehdi Bakhshandeh, an official with the Ministry of Agriculture, Iran exported 4.83 million tons of agricultural products worth $4.65 billion during the period, registering a 27.45% jump in weight and a 4.3% rise in value year-on-year. “Agricultural exports constituted 4.74% of weight and 13.24% of value of Iran’s total non-oil exports,” he was quoted as saying by Mehr News Agency. Bakhshandeh noted that agricultural imports declined by 3.62% and 1.6% in weight and value, respectively, without mentioning the value and weight of imports. The main exported agricultural products were fresh or frozen tomato and potato, apple, onion and shallot, while the main imported commodities were field corn, soybeans and soy meal.