Iran Exports $37bln of Non-Oil Goods in 11 Months

(FNA)- Iran earned $37 billion from exporting non-oil commodities to the foreign markets in the first eleven months of the current Iranian year (March 21, 2013-February 20, 2014).

Iran exported $37bln worth of non-oil goods during the eleven-month period, marking a 15.73-percent rise in terms of weight from the previous year, the latest data released by the Iranian Customs Office said on Wednesday.

Iron ore, liquefied propane and bitumen were Iran’s main exports which valued at $1.258 billion, $1.122 billion and $1.006 billion, respectively.

The non-oil exports were mainly exported to China, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, India and Afghanistan.

Iran has trade transactions with over 105 world countries.

Last year, former Iranian Economy Minister Seyed Shamseddin Hosseini said that Iran’s non-oil exports witnessed an eye-catching growth in the last Iranian year (ended March 20, 2013) despite the sanctions and restrictions imposed by the West on Tehran.

“The value of the country’s non-oil goods exported last year hit $41.3 billion,” the Iranian economy minister said, addressing a conference on monetary policy of global economy.

He noted that the figure shows an increase as compared with last year due to growth in tourism sector and exports of agricultural and mineral products.

“The non-oil export deficit reduced to $12.3 billion last year from the previous figure of $18 billion,” Hosseini said.