Iran's six-month mineral exports up 9%, exceed $5b

Tehran, Oct 15, IRNA - Iran exported minerals valued at $5.1 billion during March 21-September 22, 2018, indicating a 9.5-percent growth compared to the figure for the same period last year. The share of mining industry in Iran’s total foreign trade during the same six-month period indicated growths of 22 percent and 7.5 percent year-on-year in terms of exports and imports, respectively, according to a report by Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO). IMIDRO’s report further said that in the same duration, Iran exported 5.5 million tons of steel valued at $2.5 billion. The country’s overseas sales of steel, in this period, witnessed a 20-percent growth in term of weight compared to last year’s figure. The report said although lower weight-wise due to greater concentration on overseas sales of copper cathode instead of concentrate, the value of Iran’s copper exports in the said time-span amounted to $482 million showing a 33-percent rise. IMIDRO report added during March 21-September 22, 2018, Iran exported cement worth $315 million — up three percent year-on-year. The total weight of Iran’s mineral exports in the said six-month period decreased 9.6 percent due to the industry’s increased focus on supplying domestic market and a change, in terms of purity, in the Chinese market’s demand for iron ore.