$1 Billion of Exports From E. Azarbaijan in 10 Months

A total of 1.26 million tons of goods worth $1 billion were exported from East Azarbaijan Province during the 10 months to Jan. 20, an official with the province’s customs administration said.

Ali Asghar Abbas-Zadeh added that this marked a 28% and 20% growth in tonnage and value respectively compared with last year’s similar period, IRNA reported.

Plastic products, fruits, fuels, mineral oils and their byproducts, products made from grains, including flour, starch, sugar cube, sugar, pastry, machinery, cocoa, glass and glass products, and steel were the main commodities exported from the northwestern province during the 10 months.

The exported commodities were shipped to 101 countries, including Iraq, Turkey, Georgia, Afghanistan, Armenia, Italy, Pakistan, Russia, Italy, Bulgaria and Azerbaijan.

Abbas-Zadeh noted that the province imported 408,721 tons of commodities worth $872.45 million during the period under review, down by 6% and 9% in volume and value respectively YOY.

Imports mainly included machinery and mechanical parts, wood, wooden ornaments, charcoal, tobacco, paper, paperboard, electric machinery and equipment, meat, plastic materials and synthetic fibers. They came from 89 countries, including Turkey, Germany, China, Italy, Georgia, Armenia, Japan, Sweden and South Korea.

East Azarbaijan Province is an industrial center of Iran, as it houses production units engaged in a wide range of fields, including carpet weaving, handicrafts, glass industries, paper manufacturing, steelmaking, oil refinery, vehicle and auto parts industries and, agricultural machinery, as well as leather and shoe industries.

The province is also one of the richest regions of Iran in terms of minerals.