31% Growth in Iran's Non-Oil Trade With CIS

This registered a 46.12% and 31.42% growth in tonnage and value respectively compared with last year’s corresponding period in the first nine months of the current fiscal year (March 21-Dec. 21).

Latest data released by the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration show Iran’s exports to CIS totaled 2.28 million tons worth $928 million during the period, indicating a 59.83% and 4.47% increase in tonnage and value respectively year-on-year. 

Imports stood at 1.58 million tons worth $1.11 billion, up 30.04% and 67.48% in tonnage and value respectively YOY, according to Financial Tribune.

The Commonwealth of Independent States, also nicknamed the Russian Commonwealth (to distinguish it from the Commonwealth of Nations), is a political and economic intergovernmental organization of nine former Soviet Republics located in Eurasia (primarily in Central to North Asia), formed after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. 

Ukraine withdrew its associate membership in May 2018, Georgia rescinded its membership in 2008, while the Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania), which regard their membership in the Soviet Union as an illegal occupation, chose not to participate.

Main Commodities and Trading Partners 

Iran mainly exported liquefied natural gas, pistachios, kiwi, apples and Portland cement to CIS.

In exchange, major commodities imported into Iran from these countries included nuclear reactor parts, barley, field corn, sunflower oil and radio navigation devices.

In terms of total trade value, Russia topped the CIS list with bilateral trade standing at 1.62 million tons worth $1.13 billion, up by 23.29% and 65.29% in tonnage and value respectively YOY. In fact, Russia was Iran’s 10th major trading partner in the world during the nine months.

Exports to Russia amounted to 326,722 tons worth $193.39 million to register a 0.31% and 15.82% growth in tonnage and value respectively YOY. Russia was Iran’s second biggest export destination among the countries under review and Iran’s 22nd export market in the world.

In return, Russia exported 1.3 million tons of commodities worth $942.64 million to Iran, up by 30.81% and 81.17% in tonnage and value respectively YOY. It was the top exporter of goods to Iran among CIS countries and the eighth exporter of goods to Iran in the world.

Major Iranian commodities exported to Russia were kiwi, apples, pistachio, tomato and grapes.

For its part, Russia mainly exported nuclear reactor parts, field corn, barley, sunflower oil and radio navigation devices to Iran.

Azerbaijan was Iran’s second biggest trading partner among CIS countries during the nine months, as two-way commercial exchanges stood at 702,062 tons worth $326.91 million to register a 32.74% and 35.49% growth in tonnage and value respectively YOY. Azerbaijan was Iran’s eighth trading partner in the world during the period.

Iran exported 665,807 tons of goods worth $313.28 million to Azerbaijan, up by 37.19% and 39.14% in tonnage and value respectively YOY. Azerbaijan was Iran’s top export destination among CIS countries and the 13th export destination in the world during the period. Iran’s exports to Azerbaijan included liquefied natural gas and iron/steel pipes.

This is while Iran imported 36,255 tons of commodities worth $13.63 million from Azerbaijan, down 16.85% and 15.5% in tonnage and value respectively YOY, a majority of which included non-alloy iron/steel products, oilcake and barley. 

Azerbaijan was the seventh exporter of goods to Iran among CIS countries and the 61st exporter to Iran in the world.

Mutual trade between Iran and Kazakhstan amounted to 575,889 tons worth $161.28 million, indicating a 50.53% and 5.04% increase in tonnage and value respectively YOY. Kazakhstan was Iran’s third major trading partner among CIS countries and 10th in the world. 

Iran’s exports reached 377,128 tons worth $100 million, up 44.72% in tonnage and down 14.67% in value YOY, while Kazakhstan’s exports to Iran reached 198,760 tons worth $61.25 million, up by 62.96% and 68.68% in tonnage and value respectively YOY.

Kazakhstan was Iran’s fifth export destination as well as the second biggest exporter of goods to Iran among CIS countries. The country was Iran’s 31st export destination and 37th exporter to Iran in the world.

Pistachios, Portland cement, dates and raisins were Iran’s main exports to Kazakhstan, while Kazakhstan exported barley, animal carcasses, colza seeds, frozen sheep meat and non-alloy iron/steel ingots to Iran.