TEHRAN- According to the latest report released by Iran’s Customs Administration, the country’s non-oil exports to EU reached above $643.3 million in the first five months of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21-August 21), registering a 21 percent rise compared to the same time span in the preceding year, IRNA reported.

Italy, as reported, has been the major customer of Iranian non-oil products in this period. It imported $261.5 million of goods in the said time, showing a 15.76 percent increase from its previous $226 million in the same time last year. 
Spain, Germany, Belgium and Poland have been respectively the other major destinations for Iranian non-oil products in the said period.

The European Union’s trade with Iran amounted to €5.107 billion in the first half of 2016, a 43 percent rise year on year, based on the latest figures released by the European Union's statistics agency Eurostat in late August.

Following the implementation of the nuclear deal in January and thanks to the rise in EU countries’ purchase of oil from the Islamic Republic, trade between Iran and the EU rose 43 percent compared with €3.563 billion in first six months of 2015. 

From January to June 2016, EU’s exports to Iran increased by 13 percent and reached €3.565 billion, from €3.154 billion in the first half of 2015. 

As reported in late May, EU’s exports to Iran hit €1.602 billion in the first three months of the current year, which shows a 16-percent rise from €1.374 billion in the same period last year.

At the same time, EU’s imports from the Islamic Republic increased 52 percent and stood at €396 million, while the amount was €260 million in the same period in 2015.

In mid-April, Iran and the EU issued a joint statement in Tehran setting the road map for cooperation. The statement was released by Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and EU foreign policy Chief Federica Mogherini who visited Iran along with seven European commissioners.

The two sides taking stock of their long standing relations, based upon mutual respect and interests, reiterated their intention to develop a broad and comprehensive agenda for bilateral cooperation.

HJ/MA