Iran's Non-Oil Trade With CIS Up 28%

EghtesadOnline: Iran traded 4.31 million tons of non-oil commodities worth $2.24 billion with the nine members of the Commonwealth of Independent States, namely Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus and Moldova, during the 10 months to Jan. 20.

News ID: ۷۴۶۹۳۵

17 March 2019

This registers a 47.31% and 27.97% increase in tonnage and value respectively compared with last year’s corresponding period, the latest data released by the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration show.

Iran’s exports totaled 2.43 million tons worth $1.01 billion during the period under review, indicating a 57% and 3.51% increase in tonnage and value respectively year-on-year.

Imports stood at 1.87 million tons worth $1.22 billion, up 36.35% and 59.13% in tonnage and value respectively YOY, Financial Tribune reported.

The Commonwealth of Independent States, also known as the Russian Commonwealth (in order to distinguish it from the Commonwealth of Nations), is a political and economic intergovernmental organization of nine member states, all of which are 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 and Georgia 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, Trading Partners

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

In exchange, major commodities imported into Iran from CIS nations included nuclear reactors’ parts, barley, field corn, sunflower oilseed and sheep carcasses.

In terms of total trade value, Russia topped the list of CIS countries by trading 1.92 million tons worth $1.25 billion with Iran, up by 30.27% and 58.19% in tonnage and value respectively YOY.

Exports to Russia amounted to 371,629 tons worth $219.25 million to register a 0.22% and 8.56% growth in tonnage and value respectively YOY.

Russia was Iran’s second biggest export destination among the countries under review and 17th in the world.

In return, Russia exported 1.55 million tons of commodities worth $1.03 billion to Iran, up by 40.35% and 75.13% in tonnage and value respectively YOY.

Russia was the top exporter of goods to Iran among CIS members and eighth in the world.

Major Iranian commodities exported to Russia were kiwi, apples, tomatoes and pistachios.

For its part, Russia mainly exported nuclear reactors’ parts, barley and field corn to Iran.

Azerbaijan was Iran’s second biggest trading partner among CIS nations during the 10 months, as two-way commercial exchanges stood at 747.55 million tons worth $357 million to register a 30.19% and 33.39% growth in tonnage and value respectively YOY.

Iran exported 706,608 tons of goods worth $340.36 million to Azerbaijan, up by 35.20% and 36.63% in tonnage and value respectively YOY.

Azerbaijan was Iran’s top export destination among CIS and 12th in the world during the period.

Iran’s exports to Azerbaijan included liquefied natural gas and confectionery. It imported 40,948 tons of commodities worth $17.29 million from Azerbaijan, down 20.59% and 9.12% in tonnage and value respectively YOY, most of which were non-alloy semi-finished iron/steel products.

Azerbaijan was the top exporter of goods to Iran among CIS members and 12th exporter to Iran in the world.

Kazakhstan was Iran’s third major trading partner among CIS states.

Mutual trade between Iran and Kazakhstan amounted to 616,441 tons worth $179.49 million, indicating a 48.47% and 2.42% increase in tonnage and value respectively YOY.

Iran’s exports reached 394,033 tons worth $112.37 million, up 45.01% in tonnage and down 14.58% in value YOY, while Kazakhstan’s exports to Iran were at 222,407 tons worth $67.11 million, up by 55.02% and 53.58% in tonnage and value respectively YOY.

Kazakhstan was Iran’s fifth export destination as well as the second exporter of goods to Iran among CIS members. The country was Iran’s 29th export destination and 37th exporter to Iran in the world.

Pistachios, Portland cement and dates were Iran’s main goods exported to Kazakhstan, while Kazakhstan exported mainly barley, colza seeds and sheep carcasses to Iran.

Armenia was Iran’s third biggest export destination, after Azerbaijan and Russia, among CIS countries and 26th in the world, as Iran exported 465,880 tons worth $132.86 million to Armenia during the 10-month period, up by 96.13% and 42.37% in tonnage and value respectively YOY.

Iran mainly exported liquefied natural gas, bitumen, pistachios and non-alloy semi-finished iron/steel products to Armenia.

Uzbekistan was the third biggest exporter to Iran, after Russia and Kazakhstan, among CIS countries and 46th in the world, as Iran imported 30,522 tons worth $38.21 million from Uzbekistan during the 10-month period, down by 11.47% and 29.26% in tonnage and value respectively YOY.

Iran mainly imported cotton, yarn and Pinto beans from Uzbekistan.

Highest Growth, Decline in Trade

Trade with Russia (at $1.25 billion), Azerbaijan (at $357.65 million) and Armenia (at $154.02 million) saw the highest YOY growths of 58.19%, 33.39% and 33.07% respectively, while trade with Tajikistan (at $91.51 million), Belarus (at $24.29 million) and Kyrgyzstan (at $35.3 million) witnessed the lowest decline of 55.71%, 11.76% and 1.79% respectively.

Iran’s exports to Armenia (at $132.86 million), Uzbekistan (at $113.19 million) and Belarus (at $2.1 million) saw the highest growth of 42.37%, 40.64% and 38.79% respectively, while exports to Tajikistan (at $70.57), Kazakhstan (at $112.37 million) and Kyrgyzstan (at $28.05 million) witnessed the highest decline of 63.79%, 14.58% and 10.61% respectively.

Imports from Tajikistan (at $20.94 million), Russia (at $1.03 billion) and Kyrgyzstan (at $7.24 million) saw the highest growth of 78.36%, 75.13% and 58.96% respectively while imports from Uzbekistan (at $38.21 million), Belarus (at $22.19 million) and Azerbaijan (at $17.29 million) witnessed the highest decline of 29.26%, 14.70% and 9.12% respectively.