TEHRAN — Iran exported over $24 billion worth of non-oil goods, including gas condensates, in the first seven months of the current Iranian calendar year (began on March 21, 2011), up by 35.5 percent compared to the same period last year, the Customs Administrations data shows.

The Mehr news agency reported on Sunday that the on-oil exports, excluding gas condensates, surged 23.6 percent in the mentioned period compared with the year before, reaching 18.4 billion dollars from $14.8 billion.

The exported goods weighed around 43.8 million tons which is 10.4 percent more than previous year’s figure, the report added.

Iran's non-oil export items mainly include gas condensates, mineral fuels, chemical products, plastics, fruits, nuts, fertilizers and carpets.

Iran also imported some 20.6 million tons of commodities (worth $34.5 billion) in the mentioned time span, showing a 24 percent and a 12.5 percent decrease in terms of weight and value, respectively.

Previously, Trade Promotion Organization chief Hamid Safdel had said the value of non-oil exports is expected to hit $43 billion in the current year and $50.5 billion in the year after.

Safdel also said the government backs exporters to help increase non-oil exports.

Iran's non-oil exports have increased considerably in recent years.

China, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, and India are the top four destinations for Iranian exports.