IRICA chief says non-oil trade hits $44b in five months
Non-oil imports plunge 16.3%, exports dip 6%
Iran’s non-oil trade reached 76.54 million tons worth $43.94 billion in the first five months of this year (began on March 20, 2025), the country’s customs chief said on Tuesday, adding that exports rose just 0.07% in volume but fell 6% in value, while imports dropped 5.4% in weight and 16.3% in value.
Faroud Asgari, deputy economy minister and head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA), said non-oil exports during the period rose 0.07% in volume but fell 6% in value compared with last year. Imports dropped 5.4% in weight and 16.3% in value, IRNA reported.
Of the total, 61.33 million tons worth $20.92 billion were exports, while imports amounted to 15.21 million tons worth $23.02 billion.
Asgari said petrochemical shipments stood at 21.88 million tons worth $8.64 billion, marking a 12% decline in volume and 13% drop in value. Key exports included natural gas, liquefied propane, petroleum bitumen, liquefied butane and methanol.
On the import side, main items were “gold in raw form,” feed corn, sunflower seed oil, rice and soybeans.
China, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Afghanistan, Oman and Pakistan were the top destinations for Iranian exports. The UAE, China, Turkey, India, Germany, Russia and the Netherlands were the main sources of imports.