Iran ups non-oil exports by 8% in 2 months

Iran's non-oil exports have witnessed an eye-catching growth in the first two months of the current Iranian year (started March 21), official data said. Some 13.73 million tons of non-oil commodities worth $6.137 billion have been exported during the first two months of current year showing more than 8 percent growth as compared with last year's corresponding period, the latest figures released by the Iranian Customs Administration said. Earlier this month, Iranian Economy Minister Seyed Shamseddin Hosseini said that Iran's non-oil exports had considerably increased in the last Iranian year (ended March 20) despite the sanctions and restrictions imposed by the West on Tehran. "The value of the country's non-oil goods exported last year hit $41.3 billion," the Iranian economy minister said, addressing a conference on monetary policy of global economy on Saturday. He noted that the figure shows an increase as compared with last year due to growth in tourism sector and exports of agricultural and mineral products. "The non-oil export deficit reduced to $12.3 billion last year from the previous figure of $18 billion," Hosseini said. Earlier this year, Head of the Exports Commission of the Iranian Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture Asadollah Asgaroladi said that his commission plans to equalize the volume of the country's non-oil exports and imports in the next Iranian year (started March 21). "If we are due to import goods worth about $60bln to $65bln, the country should have the same amount of exports," Asgaroladi said in February.