Iran's Non-Oil Trade Surplus Hits $1.5b

EghtesadOnline: Iran recorded a non-oil trade surplus of $1.57 billion during the 11 months to Feb. 19.

News ID: ۷۴۶۹۲۸

16 March 2019

According to a report by IRNA citing statistics from the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration, non-oil foreign trade stood at $78.57 billion during the period.

When compared with IRICA's data for last year's corresponding period, this year’s foreign trade indicates a 12% decrease year-on-year.

Overall exports hit 105.9 million tons worth $40.07 billion to register a 6.36% decrease in weight and a 0.74% decline in value YOY, according to Financial Tribune.

Imports amounted to 28.92 million tons worth $38.5 billion, down 21.47% in weight. Imports saw a decline of 19.2% in value over last year’s similar period, IRICA's data showed.

China, Iraq, the UAE, Afghanistan and Turkey were Iran’s five top non-oil export markets during the 11 months.

Iran’s exports to China reached 28.52 million tons, indicating a decline of 9.41% in weight year-on-year.

Iraq bought 18.39 million tons of non-oil goods from Iran, up 53.09% in tonnage and 42.02% in value YOY.

Exports to the UAE, Afghanistan and Turkey declined by 21.29%, 2.15% and 7.63% respectively.

The average price of each ton of exported commodities hovered around $378, up more than 5.8% YOY.

Major exporters to Iran during the period were China with 3.178 million tons worth $9.37 billion, the UAE with 3.518 million tons, Turkey with 1.153 million tons and India with 1.679 million tons.

The report did not disclose the missing values.

Imports from the UAE and Turkey decreased by 42.75% and 32.6% respectively YOY.

The average price of each ton of imported commodities hovered around $1,331, down 4.93% compared with last year’s same period.

By “non-oil”, IRICA refers to all commodities, except crude oil. In fact, oil-driven products and byproducts, as well as petrochemical products, are still categorized as non-oil.

Gas condensates were Iran’s main exported non-oil commodity with $3.93 billion, followed by liquefied natural gas worth $1.92 billion, liquefied propane worth $1.6 billion, light oils and products, excluding gasoline worth $1.32 billion and methanol worth $1.29 billion.

Iran’s imports over the 11 months mainly included field corn ($1.87 billion accounting for more than 4.86% of total imports), rice worth $1.34 billion, auto parts, excluding tires, worth $1.3 billion, soybeans worth $1.08 billion and graphite electrodes used in furnaces worth $548 million.

EPI Rises 71% as IPI Grows 121%

The Statistical Center of Iran’s latest report shows the export price index (using the fiscal ending March 2012 as base year and in terms of rial) stood at 313.3 for the third quarter of the current Iranian year (Sept. 23-Dec. 21, 2018), to register a 30.3% increase compared with the preceding quarter (summer) and a 71.7% rise compared with the same quarter of the year before.

The average EPI during the four quarters to Dec. 21 witnessed a 37.4% growth year-on-year.

The third quarter saw EPI stand at 139.1 in dollar terms, registering a 10.4% increase compared with the preceding quarter and a rise of 26.3% compared with the same quarter of last year.

The average EPI in dollar terms during the four quarters leading to Dec. 21 witnessed a 15% growth year-on-year.

The Import Price Index in terms of rial stood at 1071.9 for the third quarter of the current fiscal, registering a 28.8% increase compared with the preceding quarter and a 121.6% rise compared with the same quarter of last year.

The average IPI during the four quarters to Dec. 21 witnessed a 60.3% growth YOY.

The third quarter saw IPI stand at 276.5 in terms of dollar, registering a 7.4% increase compared with the previous quarter and a rise of 18.8% compared with the same quarter of last year.

The average IPI during the four quarters ending Dec. 21 also witnessed a 6.6% increase YOY.

IPI is an economic indicator measuring real output in various industries, with industrial production and capacity levels expressed as an index level relative to a base year, which SCI considers to be fiscal 2011-12, standing at 100.