TEHRAN -- Ministry of Industry and Mines managing director of non-metal affairs Hossein Ayoubi-Mehrizi said here Monday that the non-metal exports stood at $269.5 million in the first three quarters of the current Iranian year (started March 21). The figure was 5.3 percent higher compared to the figure last year.

He told reporters that exports included variety of medicine, detergents, chemicals, and plastic products.

Ayoubi-Mehrizi said that the production of detergents increased by 11.2 percent, sugar and sugar-cubes 2 percent, vegetable oil 1.9 percent, and print-paper 13.9 percent, compared to the year before.

He also said the total units affiliated to the ministry number 15,775 and the total production value tops rls.39,000 billion which is 25 percent of the total industrial output.

Ayoubi-Mehrizi said that the single exchange rate policy to be implemented next year will rise the total tariffs and customs fees.