Iran’s non-oil foreign trade during the first seven month of the current Iranian year (started March 21) stood at $52.527 billion, indicating a 6.2% rise compared with last year's corresponding period. According to the latest report by the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration, non-oil exports during the period hit $24.710 billion, indicating a 2.17% decline year-on-year. Gas condensates ($4.115 billion), liquefied propane ($809 million), polyethylene ($750 million), light crude oil, excluding gasoline ($725 million), and methanol ($661 million) were the main exported commodities. China was the main customer of Iranian non-oil-products during the seven-month period, as Iran exported $5.022 billion worth of goods to the Asian country, 12% more than the corresponding period of last year. Other major export destinations included Iraq with $4.013 billion, the UAE ($3.471 billion), South Korea ($2.444 billion) and Afghanistan ($1.584 billion). Exports to Iraq , South Korea and Afghanistan rose by 12.54%, 24.79% and 16.11% respectively compared to last year, but the UAE imported 12.11% less goods from Iran in the first seven month over last year’s same period.
Imports amounted to $27.817 billion, up 14.89% YOY. Increased imports of basic goods, auto parts, cars and capital goods are the main reasons behind the rise in imports. Imports mainly included rice ($ 1 billion), feed corn ($882 million), auto parts for car construction ($738 million), vehicles of engine displacement between 1500cc and 2000cc ($625 million), soybean ($536 million). Major exporters to Iran included China ($6.820 billion), the UAE ($4.678 billion), Turkey ($1.933 billion), South Korea ($1.844 billion) and Germany ($1.540 billion). The average price of each ton of importing commodities hovered around $1,396, up 8.89% year-on-year.