Iran's Non-Oil Trade With CIS Tops $150m in 1 Month

EghtesadOnline: Iran traded 442,475 tons of non-oil commodities worth $153.56 million with the nine member of the Commonwealth of Independent States, namely Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus and Moldova, in the first Iranian month (March 21-April 20).

News ID: ۷۴۷۴۷۹

02 June 2019

This indicates a 48.4% rise in tonnage and 40.75% decline in value compared with last year’s same month.

Latest data released by the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration show Iran’s exports totaled 269,052 tons worth $71.89 million during the month, indicating a 56.19% growth in tonnage and 4.6% decrease in value over last year’s similar month.

Imports stood at 173,422 tons worth $81.66 million, up 37.73% in tonnage and down 55.58% in value year-on-year, according to Financial Tribune.

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, Georgia retracted 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, Trading Partners

Iran mainly exported kiwis, tomatoes, Portland cement, pistachios and machinery to CIS countries.

In exchange, major commodities imported into Iran from CIS nations included field corn, sunflower oil, cotton, barley, radio navigation devices and sheep carcasses.

In terms of total trade value, Russia topped the list among CIS countries with Iran trade standing at 213,886 tons worth $87.84 million, up by 48.45% in tonnage and down 54.61% in value YOY.

Exports to Russia amounted to 65,500 tons worth $25.71 million to register a 1.77% growth in tonnage and 8.58% decrease in value YOY.

Russia was Iran’s top export destination among the countries under review and 13th in the whole world.

In return, Russia exported 148,386 tons of commodities worth $62.12 million to Iran, up by 86.15% in tonnage and down 62.44% in value YOY.

Russia was the top exporter of goods to Iran among CIS members and 10th in the world.

Major Iranian commodities exported to Russia were kiwis, tomatoes, cabbage, pistachios and dairy products.

In exchange, Russia mainly exported field corn, sunflower oil, barley and radio navigation devices to Iran.

Uzbekistan was Iran’s second biggest trading partner among CIS nations during the month to April 20, as commercial exchanges stood at 103,023 tons worth $22.27 million to register a 755.04% and 194.94% growth in tonnage and value respectively YOY.

Iran exported 92,381 tons of goods worth $11.39 million to Uzbekistan, up by 1,480.6% and 165.25% in tonnage and value respectively YOY.

Uzbekistan was Iran’s third export destination among CIS countries and 17th in the world during the period.

Iran’s exports to Uzbekistan included Portland cement and machinery.

It imported 10,642 tons of commodities worth $10.88 million from Uzbekistan, up 71.53% and 234.09% in tonnage and value respectively YOY, which mainly consisted of cotton and chemicals.

Uzbekistan was the second exporter of goods to Iran among the nations under review and 21st exporter to Iran in the world.

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

Mutual trade between Iran and Azerbaijan amounted to 34,837 tons worth $20.7 million, indicating an 11.63% and 2.7% decline in tonnage and value respectively YOY.

Iran’s exports reached 33,058 tons worth $19.78 million, down 11.28% and 2.68% in tonnage and value respectively YOY, while Azerbaijan’s exports to Iran were at 1,779 tons worth $912,722, down by 17.6% and 3.04% in tonnage and value respectively YOY.

Azerbaijan was Iran’s second export destination as well as the seventh exporter of goods to Iran among CIS members. The country was Iran’s 14th export destination and 55th exporter to Iran in the world.

Machinery, potatoes and textiles were Iran’s main goods exported to Azerbaijan, while Azerbaijan exported mainly barley and sheep carcasses in return.

Kazakhstan was the third biggest exporter of goods to Iran, after Russia and Azerbaijan, among CIS countries and 35th in the world, as Iran exported 9,573 tons worth $2.96 million to Kazakhstan during the one-month period, down by 73.26% and 66.68% in tonnage and value respectively YOY.

Iran mainly imported barley, sheep carcasses and Eruca sativa from Kazakhstan.

Highest Growths, Declines in Trade

Trade with Uzbekistan ($22.27 million), Kyrgyzstan ($3.66 million) and Armenia ($6.64 million) saw the highest YOY growths of 194.94%, 34.15% and 0.45% respectively, while trade with Tajikistan ($1.79 million), Kazakhstan ($8.62 million) and Russia ($87.84) witnessed the lowest declines of 63.05%, 56.67% and 54.61% respectively.

Iran’s exports to Belarus ($375,374), Uzbekistan ($11.39 million) and Armenia ($6.24 million) saw the highest growths of 400.61%, 165.25% and 9.5% respectively, while exports to Tajikistan ($837,446), Kazakhstan ($5.66 million) and Russia ($25.71 million) witnessed the highest declines of 79.61%, 48.57% and 8.58% respectively.

Imports from Uzbekistan ($10.88 million), Kyrgyzstan ($1.81 million) and Tajikistan ($952,724) saw the highest growths of 234.09%, 76.78% and 29.14% respectively while imports from Kazakhstan ($2.96 million), Russia ($62.12 million) and Armenia ($402,834) witnessed the highest declines of 66.68%, 62.44% and 55.94% respectively.