Iran’s TPOI sets $75 billion target for non-oil exports

TEHRAN,May 1(MNA) - The Trade Promotion Organization of Iran (TPOI) has set the target of $75 billion for this year, which began on March 20, TPOI head Hamid Safdel told on Monday. Previously, the Customs Administration head announced that Iran had exported around $43.7 billion worth of non-oil goods in the past calendar year and imported some $61.8 billion worth of goods, to hit the unprecedented mark of $105 billion in annual trade. Abbas Memarnejad said non-oil exports rose by 28 percent compared to the year before, while imports declined by 4 percent. On March 16, Safdel said Iran’s main non-oil exports are gas condensates, petrochemical products and engineering services, amounting to $9 billion, $13 billion, and $4 billion respectively. Other exports, including carpets, handicrafts and agricultural goods including foods were valued at about $17 billion. First Vice-President Mohammad-Reza Rahimi announced in January that Iran’s overall non-oil trade balance is anticipated to reach zero in the next Iranian calendar year. China, the UAE and Iraq were respectively the main destinations for the Iranian goods, while, the UAE, China and South Korea, in order, were the main exporters to Iran during the last calendar year.