Iran imports 708,000 tons of rice in 7 months

TEHRAN,Nov.7(MNA) - Iran imported some 708,000 tons of rice, valued at around $681 million, in the first seven months of the current Iranian calendar year, which began on March 20. India, the United Arab Emirates, and Pakistan were the main exporters of rice to Iran, Mehr cited statistics of the Iranian Customs Administration. Meanwhile, the Fars News Agency quoted Iran’s State Commerce Organization Managing Director Abbas Qobadi as saying that Iran imported wheat from U.S., Kazakhstan, Russia, Canada, Brazil, Ukraine, and Germany. Some 4.2 million tons of what has been consumed since the beginning of the year and 2-2.5 million tons is expected to be consumed by the end of the year, he noted.