Iran's Non-Oil Trade With Africa Tops $670m in 10 Months

EghtesadOnline: Iran traded 1.86 million tons of non-oil commodities worth $672.26 million with the member states of African Group during the first 10 months of the current fiscal year (March 21, 2018-Jan. 20) to register a 16.48% and 22.55% decline in tonnage and value respectively compared with last year’s corresponding period.

News ID: ۷۴۶۷۷۵

25 February 2019

Latest data released by the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration show Iran’s exports totaled 1.78 million tons worth $557.73 million during the period, indicating a 16.01% and 9.94% decrease in tonnage and value respectively year-on-year.

Imports stood at 83,197 tons worth $114.53 million, down 25.58% and 53.95% in tonnage and value respectively YOY.

The African Group is one of the five Regional Groups in the United Nations, which are unofficial bodies that act as voting blocs and negotiation forums. It is the largest group, with 54 members and 28% of the votes in the UN General Assembly, and encompasses all the independent countries of its namesake continent, according to Financial Tribune.

The United Nations Regional Groups are the geopolitical groups of member states. UN member states are divided into five regional groups: the African Group with 54 member states, the Asia-Pacific Group with 53 member states, the Eastern European Group with 23 member states, the Latin American and Caribbean Group with 33 member states and the Western European and Others Group with 28 member states, plus 1 member state (the United States) as an observer state.

Main Commodities, Trading Partners

Iran mainly exported semi-finished non-alloy iron/steel products, bitumen, liquefied butane and billets to the members of the African Group.

In exchange, major commodities imported into Iran from the African Group included pod vegetables, aluminum oxide and sesame seeds.

In terms of total trade value, Egypt topped the list among the members of African Group with Iran trade standing at 503,200 tons worth $218.68 million, down 11.96% in tonnage and up 18.46% in value YOY.

Exports to Egypt amounted to 502,678 tons worth $216.31 million to register a 12.88% decline in tonnage and an 18.79% increase in value YOY.

Egypt was Iran’s top export destination among the countries under review and 18th in the world.

In return, Egypt exported 522 tons of commodities worth $2.36 million to Iran, down by 87.78% and 57.02% in tonnage and value respectively YOY.

Egypt was the 11th exporter of goods to Iran among the African states and 90th in the world.

Major Iranian commodities exported to Egypt were semi-finished non-alloy iron/steel products, billets and non-alloy iron/steel ingots.

For its part, Egypt mainly exported razors, potassium sulfate and smoking pipes to Iran.

Kenya was Iran’s second biggest trading partner among the member states during the 10 months, as two-way commercial exchanges stood at 258,157 tons worth $86.81 million to register a 6.77% and 21.25% decline in tonnage and value respectively YOY.

Iran exported 255,789 tons of goods worth $76.81 million to Kenya, up by 3.22% in tonnage and down 13.35% in value YOY.

Kenya was Iran’s second major export destination among African countries and 32nd in the world during the period.

Iran’s exports to Kenya included liquefied butane, bitumen and liquefied propane.

Iran imported 2,368 tons of commodities worth $10 million from Kenya, up 69.63% and 95.23% in tonnage and value respectively YOY, a majority of which were tea and coffee.

Kenya was the fourth exporter of goods to Iran among the countries under review and 68th exporter to Iran in the world.

Sudan was Iran’s third major trading partner among the states.

Trade between Iran and Sudan amounted to 130,364 tons worth $55.86 million, indicating a 30.41% and 28.42% decrease in tonnage and value respectively YOY.

Iran’s exports reached 127,664 tons worth $52.02 million, down 30.23% and 27.73% in tonnage and value respectively YOY, while Sudan’s exports to Iran were at 2,700 tons worth $3.84 million, down by 39.96% and 37.84% in tonnage and value respectively YOY.

Sudan was Iran’s third export destination and the eighth exporter of goods to Iran among African states. It was Iran’s 38th export destination and 84th exporter to Iran in the world.

Semi-finished non-alloy iron/steel products, non-alloy iron/steel ingots and bitumen were Iran’s main goods exported to Sudan, while Sudan exported sesame seeds and pod vegetables.

South Africa was the top exporter of goods among the African Group members and 47th in the world, as South Africa exported 4,415 tons worth $33.87 million to Iran during the 10-month period, down by 22.74% in tonnage and up 26.30% in value YOY. South Africa mainly exported chemicals and steel products to Iran.

Swaziland was the second top exporter of goods to Iran, after South Africa, and ranked 53rd in the world. Iran imported 30,894 tons of commodities worth $22.49 million from Swaziland during the period, up 3,177.90% and 166.80% in tonnage and value respectively YOY.

Iran mainly imported aluminum oxide, pesticides and air pump parts from Swaziland.

Ethiopia was the third top exporter of goods to Iran in 10 months and 56th worldwide, as the country exported 19,017 tons of goods worth $21.32 million to Iran, a majority of which included pod vegetables, sesame seeds and pinto beans.

Ethiopia’s exports to Iran went down both in terms of tonnage and value year-on-year by 37.90% and 34.01% respectively.

Highest Growths, Declines in Trade

Trade with Rwanda (at $41.13 million), Morocco (at $33.76 million) and Swaziland (at $22.49 million) saw the highest YOY growth of 4,177.46%, 233.82% and 166.82% respectively, while trade with Central African Republic (at $996), Zambia (at $820,552) and Togo (at $2.29 million) witnessed the lowest declines of 99.98%, 98.70% and 95.94% respectively.

Iran’s exports to Rwanda (at $413,722), Nigeria (at $4.32 million) and Morocco (at $32.91 million) saw the highest growths of 1,462.98%, 690.05% and 277.35% respectively, while exports to Central African Republic (at $996), Togo (at $2.29 million) and Guinea (at $182,513) witnessed the highest decline of 99.98%, 95.94% and 88.88% respectively.

Imports from Algeria (at $300), Uganda (at $371,043) and Swaziland (at $22.49 million) saw the highest growth of 1,775%, 328.71% and 166.80% respectively, while imports from Zambia (at $751,684), Ghana (at $7.54 million) and Tanzania (at $3.82 million) witnessed the highest decline of 98.81%, 84.34% and 72.27% respectively.