Iran’s agricultural exports grew 24% in Q1 calendar year
Iran’s agricultural exports, aided by a free trade agreement, surged by 24% in the first three months of the Persian calendar year that started on March 20, the deputy head of the Trade Promotion Organization of Iran said on Tuesday.
“The exports of agricultural products amount to $1bn in the three-month timespan, posting a 24% rise comparing with the corresponding period a year earlier,” Mohammad-Sadeq Qannadzadeh was quoted as saying by Tasnim News Agency.
Qannadzadeh added that shipments also soared by 19% weight wise from March 20 to June 20.
According to the official, cereals came top of the list with a 200% increase in exports.
He attributed the growth to the implementation of a “temporary” free trade deal Iran signed with the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) in late December.
The EEU comprises Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia.
“Around 37% of Iran’s agricultural exports come from trade with the EEU,” Qannadzadeh said.
He pointed out that Iran’s agro-exports would see “bigger leaps” once the trade deal, which is now on a preferential basis, becomes fully operational.
The official also noted that Iran’s imports of such items dropped by 17% in the March-June period.
“The decline suggests that policies made by the Agriculture Ministry were accurate,” Qannadzadeh said.