Iran’s non-oil trade tops $78b in 10 months: finance minister

Iran conducted $78.2 billion in trade in non-oil goods with other countries during the first ten months of the current Iranian calendar year, which began on March 20, 2012, according to Iranian Finance and Economic Affairs Minister Shamseddin Hosseini.
The country exported $34.5 billion worth of non-oil goods and imported $43.7 billion of non-oil goods during the 10-month period, ISNA quoted Hosseini as saying on Saturday.

He also said that exports of industrial and mineral goods increased by 30 percent year on year.

In July 2012, Hosseini said Iran conducted economic transactions with 150 countries in the previous Iranian calendar year (March 2011-March 2012). And about 80 countries transited their products through Iran, he added.

Iran continues trading with the world at a brisk pace, even though certain countries are currently trying to create obstacles in order to hinder the country’s economic progress, the finance minister said.

Iran exported around $43.7 billion worth of non-oil goods in the previous Iranian calendar year and imported about $61.8 billion worth of non-oil goods to hit the unprecedented mark of $105 billion in annual trade.

In May 2012, Trade Promotion Organization of Iran Deputy Director Kiyumars Fat’hollah Kermanshahi said that annual imports and exports are projected to reach $77 billion and $83 billion respectively by March 2016.