Iran’s non-oil foreign trade during the four months of the current Iranian year (March 2017-18) reached $29.27 billion, indicating a 6% rise compared with last year’s corresponding period. Non-oil exports during the same period of last year hit $13.45 billion, indicating a 9.54% decline year-on-year. Gas condensates ($2.31 billion), followed by light crude oil excluding gasoline ($512 million), polyethylene ($485 million), liquefied propane ($446 million) and methanol ($426 million) were the main exported commodities. China was the main customer of Iranian products during the four-month period, as Iran exported $2.84 billion worth of goods to the Asian country. Other major export destinations included Iraq with $2.52 billion, the UAE ($2.03 billion), South Korea ($1.4 billion) and India ($926 million).
Imports stood at $15.81 billion, registering a 23.97% rise YOY, IRNA reported, citing the latest report by the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration. Imports chiefly included rice ($603 million), field corn ($484 million), vehicles of engine displacement between 1500 cc and 2000 cc ($426 million), soybean ($338 million) and auto parts ($311 million). Major exporters to Iran included China ($3.49 billion), the UAE ($2.99 billion), South Korea ($1.07 billion), Turkey ($958 million) and India ($891 million).