TEHRAN- The value of Iran’s non-oil trade with foreign partners reached $69.21 billion during the first nine months of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21- December 21), up $7.637 billion or about 11 percent from the same period last year.

According to IRNA, the country’s non-oil trade stood at $61.573 billion during the first nine months of last year.

Meanwhile, the trade balance was reported negative with the value of imports exceeding that of exports by $5.93 billion.

As reported, some $37.570 billion worth of non-oil goods were imported to the country during the mentioned time span to register an 18.31 percent rise compared to last year’s 9-month period.

Automobile parts, passenger cars, corn and rice were reported to be the main drivers of the increase in the value of the country’s 9-month imports.

The value of exports stood at $31.64 billion during the said period, falling 2.39 percent from last year’s figure.

Gas condensate, liquefied propane followed by methanol and low-density oils and finally hematite granule were among top exported commodities from Iran.

China, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, South Korea and Germany were top exporters of goods to Iran, while China, the UAE, Iraq, South Korea, and Afghanistan were the top importers of Iranian commodities.

EF/MA