TEHRAN- Based on the latest data released by Iran's Costumes Administration, the value of the country's minerals and mining industries exports reached $5.4 billion during the first ten months of the previous Iranian calendar year (ended on January 19).

Minerals and mining industries' exports accounted for 15.3 percent of the country's total value of exports during the mentioned time span, IRNA reported on Sunday.

According to the report, steel was reported to be the top exported commodity in this sector accounting for 40.6 percent of the total exports.

Copper and iron ore followed steel products accounting for 11.2 percent and 11.1 percent of the total exports respectively.

With a 22.9-percent share, China stood first in the list of top Iranian minerals importers during the said period, followed by Iraq and United Arab Emirates (UAE) with 13.3 percent and 9.2 percent of shares respectively.

Iran exported $5 billion worth of such products during the first nine months of the previous Iranian calendar year (March 20 - December 20, 2016) registering a 50 percent rise compared to the same period in its preceding year.

EF/MA