China, main buyer of Iranian non-oil goods

TEHRAN,Sept.10(MNA) - China was the top importer of Iranian non-oil goods during the first five months of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21-August 22), according to the Iranian Customs Administration. Iraq, the UAE, Afghanistan, and India ranked next. Exports of Iranian goods to these countries amounted to $2.540 billion, $2.365, $1.436 billion, $1.188 billion, and $915 million in the 5-month period respectively. Exports to the five countries accounted for 80 percent of Iran’s total exports in weight and 70 percent of the country’s exports in value. Meanwhile, the UAE, China, and India were the main exporters of goods to Iran during the same time, so that they exported $3.214 billion, $3.02 billion, and $1.614 billion to Iran respectively. Rice, fodder corn, wheat, and steel ingots were the main goods exported to Iran. Iran exported around $43.7 billion worth of non-oil goods in the previous Iranian calendar year and imported about $61.8 billion worth of non-oil goods to hit the unprecedented mark of $105 billion in annual trade. In May 2012, Trade Promotion Organization of Iran Deputy Director Kiyumars Fat’hollah Kermanshahi said that annual imports and exports are projected to reach $77 billion and $83 billion respectively by March 2016.