TEHRAN- The value of Iran’s tea export rose 39 percent in the first half of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21-September 22), as compared to the first half of the past year.

As reported, Iran exported 15,291 tons of tea worth $21.6 million to 22 countries including Switzerland, France, Canada, Turkey and India in the six-month period.

The country also imported 44,421 tons of tea valued at $244.4 million from seven countries, including India, Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kenya, New Guinea, Vietnam and Turkey in the first half of this year.

Iran’s tea import increased 32.7 percent in the six-month period of this year, as compared to the same time span in the previous year.

As previously announced by the spokesman of the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA), Iran exported over 27,272 tons of tea leaves valued at $28 million in the previous Iranian calendar year 1400 (ended on March 20), registering a 77 percent rise in value and a 68 percent increase in weight,

According to Ruhollah Latifi, Iranian tea was exported to 25 countries in the previous year.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) was the top importer of Iranian tea in the mentioned year, buying 8,304 tons of tea worth over $8.774 million.

Turkey with 2,904 tons worth $3.537 million of imports, Russia with 2,598 tons worth over $3.092 million, India with 2,538 tons worth $2.371 million, and Iraq with the purchase of 2,195 tons worth $1.998 million worth of tea, were the next four export destinations for the said commodity.

Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kenya, Kazakhstan, and Afghanistan occupied the sixth to 11th places among Iran’s top tea export destinations, followed by Germany, Ukraine, Lebanon, Georgia, United Kingdom, China, the Netherlands, Kuwait, Finland, Switzerland, Canada, Belgium, Azerbaijan, and Australia, according to Latifi.

Iran also imported some 75,379 tons of tea worth $386,160,767 from 10 countries in 1400, among which India was the top supplier of tea for Iran exporting 34,285 tons of the product valued at $168 million.

Sri Lanka was the second biggest exporter of tea to Iran, selling 18,326 tons of the product worth $107 million, followed by the UAE with 14,368 tons worth $71.572 million, Turkey with 4,593 tons worth $23.700 million, and Kenya with 1,471 tons worth $5.8 million.

Iraq, Vietnam, Germany, China, and Afghanistan also started selling tea to Iran in the previous year, the official said.

MA/MA