German-Iranian trade volume hits 4.72 b euros in 2010

German-Iranian trade volume reached more than 4.72 billion euros last year, up nearly 9.2 percent from 2009, according to provisional figures released on Friday by the Federal Statistical Office based in the south German city of Wiesbaden.


Germany exported more than 3.8 billion euros worth of goods to Iran in 2010, compared to over 3.78 billion euros in 2009.

Meanwhile, German imports from Iran surged to almost 917 million euros last year from 540 million euros in 2009.

German business ties with Iran have shifted from large to mid-sized companies which feel less prone to American political pressure tactics than bigger German firms which have strong business interests in the US.

German companies have reportedly been the target of massive blackmailing and arm-twisting by the US and the Zionist lobby to end their business contacts with Iran.

Defying political pressure from the US and Israel, German firms have boosted their presence on the Iranian market.

'We are witnessing a real buying frenzy by the Iranians,' according to an
unnamed German industrial representative.

Iran remains among Germany's top trading partners in the Middle East.

Several big-name German companies are operating in Iran, including
Linde, BASF, Lurgi, Krupp, Siemens, ZF Friedrichshafen, Mercedes,
Volkswagen and MAN.

Around 50 German firms have their own affiliates in Iran and more
than 12,000 firms have their own trade representatives in the country.

Over 40,000 German jobs are directly or indirectly affected by German-
Iranian trade.

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