TEHRAN – Iran has exported 2.5 million tons of bitumen to other countries during the first seven months of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21-October 22), an official with the country’s Industry, Mining, and Trade Ministry said.

According to Mohammad Hesam-Zadeh, Iran’s annual bitumen production currently stands between 5.5-6 million tons, while the annual production capacity of the mentioned commodity in the country is more than 24 million tons, IRIB reported.

The target markets for Iranian bitumen are mostly neighboring countries such as Pakistan, Iraq, United Arab Emirates (UAE), and some African countries, Hesam-Zadeh said.

“Bitumen is one of the important non-oil export products in the country and plays an essential role in Iran's economy,” he said.

EF/MA