Petchem, steel export curbs to be lifted in ‘coming months’: TPO
A senior official of Iran’s Trade Promotion Organization (TPO) announced on Saturday that export restrictions on downstream petrochemical and steel products is expected to be removed “in the coming months,” as Tehran seeks to preserve regional export markets and deepen trade ties with neighboring countries.
Abdolamir Rabihavi, director general of West Asia at TPO, said export controls on some agricultural products had been imposed only under emergency conditions to protect domestic supply.
“The needs of neighboring countries, as a stable market for us, are important,” Rabihavi said, according to comments carried by state media. “In coordination with the Agriculture Ministry, we exported surplus domestic production in order to preserve our target markets.”
Rabihavi said he hoped measures currently under consideration would lead to the removal of export restrictions on downstream petrochemical and steel products in the coming months, without providing a specific timeline.
Iran, one of the West Asia’s largest producers of petrochemicals and steel, has periodically imposed export curbs on industrial and agricultural goods in an effort to manage domestic prices and supply shortages.
The official also highlighted the role of trade fairs and international pavilions in expanding foreign trade, saying licenses for trade delegations and international exhibitions were currently being issued.
He added that regional offices of the Trade Promotion Organization were coordinating with Iranian commercial centers abroad, as well as trade counselors at embassies and consulates, to strengthen trade cooperation.
Rabihavi said the organization was also overseeing subcommittees linked to joint economic commissions with countries including Iraq, Turkey, Oman and South Africa, covering trade, industry and mining cooperation.
“We intend to operationalize these committees in order to seriously pursue the organization’s responsibilities for facilitating and strengthening foreign trade with neighboring and non-neighboring countries,” he said.
‘Eurasia System’ ready to launch
Separately, the Trade Promotion Organization announced that infrastructure for a new “Eurasia System” had been completed and was ready to launch.
The platform is designed to digitize customs-related procedures tied to the free trade agreement between Iran and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), with the aim of increasing transparency, speeding up trade formalities and improving predictability for businesses.
According to the organization, companies seeking preferential tariffs and customs exemptions for imports from EAEU member states will be required to register certificates of origin and complete related procedures through the new customs system.