TEHRAN - The value of Iran’s non-oil export to its 15 neighboring countries increased by 12 percent during the first six months of the current Iranian calendar year (March 20-September 21), compared to the same period in the past year, the head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA) announced.

Mohammad Rezvanifar said the country exported 39 million tons of non-oil products valued at $15.6 billion during the first six months of this year, registering four percent growth in weight year on year.

Iran's total non-oil trade with neighboring countries was 50 million tons worth $32.6 billion in the mentioned six months.

According to Rezvanifar, the Islamic Republic’s non-oil trade with neighboring countries increased by five percent in terms of weight and 15 percent in terms of value in H1 compared to the same period last year.

The country’s imports from its neighbors in the said six months also showed an eight percent increase in weight and 18 percent in value compared to the first half of the previous year.

The United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Iraq, Pakistan, and the Russian Federation were the main trade partners of Iran among the neighboring countries in the mentioned six months, according to the IRICA head.

The value of Iran’s non-oil trade with its neighbors also increased by 16 percent in the first five months of the current Iranian calendar year (March 20-August 21) to reach $26.857 billion.

The trade between the two sides also increased by 10 percent in terms of weight.

During the mentioned five months, Iran exported 34.118 million tons of goods worth $13.402 billion to its neighbors, while importing 9.461 million tons of commodities valued at $13.455 billion.

Iran’s exports to neighboring countries in the first five months of this year compared to the same period last year increased by 11 percent in terms of weight and 19 percent in terms of value, respectively; and imports from neighboring countries increased by 10 percent and 13 percent respectively in terms of weight and value.

Iran shares land or water borders with 15 countries namely UAE, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Russia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, and Saudi Arabia.

EF/MA