TEHRAN- Iran exported non-oil commodities valued at $89.5 million to South Africa during the first seven months of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21-October 22), the spokesman of Trade Development Committee of Iran's House of Industry, Mining and Trade announced.

Ruhollah Latifi also announced that the Islamic Republic imported products valued at $11.5 million from South Africa in the seven-month period.

Among the African trade partners of Iran in the first seven months of this year, South Africa was the second export destination of the Iranian products, and the first source of import to the country, he added.

As the official has announced, Iran exported 1.205 million tons of non-oil commodities valued at $434 million to Africa during the first seven months of the current Iranian calendar year.

Latifi said that the country’s seven-month export to Africa fell 53 percent in value, and 33 percent in weight, year on year.

The official also announced that Iran imported 38,122 tons of goods valued at $47.434 million from Africa in the first seven months of the present year, with 21 percent drop in worth and 42 percent fall in weight, as compared to the same period of time in the past year.

Over the past 40 years, the Islamic Republic of Iran has never given up on its principled policy towards Africa due to political and cultural commonalities, despite the sanctions, pressure and disruptions of the West, and has always maintained itself alongside the people and countries of Africa.

MA