Rice imports from India and Pakistan accounted for 97% of Iran’s total rice purchases, during the first two months of the current Iranian year (March 21-May 21), data released by the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration show. India with 132,000 tons worth over $142 million was the biggest exporter followed by Pakistan with 41,000 tons worth $38 million of exports, the Persian economic daily Donya-e-Eqtesad reported. About 178,000 tons of rice worth more than $183 million were imported during the two-month period, registering a 22.1% and 9.1% decline in weight and value respectively compared with the similar period of last year. IRICA figures showed that this amount of rice purchases accounted for 3.4% and 2.7% of the volume and value of Iran’s total imports over the period respectively. Iranians consume 3.2 million tons of rice a year, of which more than 2.2 million tons are supplied by domestic farmers and the rest are procured through imports.
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