Ministry of Economic Affairs and Finance of the Is : Gilan Province non-oil exports up 34 percent in 9 months

(SHADA: TEHRAN) - An average 952 thousand tonnes of goods valued at 355.733 million dollars were exported to various 25 countries via the transit routes of the Iranian Northern Province of Gilan over the first nine months of the current calendar year (starting March 21, 2013), said the Head of Supervision Department at Gilan Province's customs administration on Wednesday.

The aforesaid products, exported during the period from March 21 to December 21, are 34 percent higher in weight compared to the corresponding period last year, the Iranian official told Young Journalists Club.

Agricultural crops (16 percent by weight, 37 percent by value), mineral and manufactured products (56 percent by weight, 9 percent by value) and chemicals (10 percent by weight, 10 percent by value) constituted the main items exported via the Province's customs offices over the said period, said Parviz Taghavi.

The Russian Federation (15 percent by weight, 28 percent by value), Azerbaijan (72 percent by weight, 44 percent by value) and Turkmenistan (6 percent by weight, 8 percent by value) were the main target markets for the commodities exported from Gilan.

Georgia, Kazakhstan, India, Ukraine, Germany, Belarus, Armenia, France, Turkey, Moldova, the UK, the UAE, Malaysia, Indonesia, Iraq, Afghanistan and Kenya were other trade partners of the Iranian Northern province during the nine-month period.

Taghavi went on to note that nearly 1.293 million tonnes of products valued at 914.632 million dollars were also imported to the Islamic Republic via Gilan customs offices during the same time. Metals and manufactured goods were the top import items accounting for 54 percent of the total imported figure in weight and value respectively.

Russia, the UAE, Cyprus, Turkey, Ukraine and China were the top exporters of the above-mentioned goods to Gilan customs offices, he explained.

Four customs offices operate across the Northern Province of Gilan in the cities of Anzali, Astara, Hasanrood, and also the International Airport of Sardar Jangal.