Agro Exports From Kurdestan Province Top $170 Million

EghtesadOnline: A total of 505,000 tons of agricultural products worth $178 million were exported from the western Kurdestan Province border crossings during the first five months of the current Iranian year (March 20-Aug. 21).

News ID: ۷۵۱۰۷۵

23 September 2020

Of the total volume, 170,000 tons worth $64 million pertained to agro products cultivated in the province while the rest came from other provinces.

Head of Kurdestan Agricultural Organization Mohammad Faris Separi told IRNA that each ton of the province’s agrofood, horticultural, livestock and seafood products over the period were exported at a cost of $267, $447, $821 and $2,000 respectively.

The official noted that the province has prioritized the completion of production chains in agricultural products that have high yields, particularly strawberries, grapes, honey and cold-water fish.

A total of 479,195 tons of commodities worth $1 billion were transited through Bashmaq border crossing in Kurdestan Province during the five months, suggesting that Bashmaq ranked first in goods transit among all Iranian border crossings, the official said recently.

According to the official, 90% of Kurdestan Province's foreign trade pass through the Bashmaq border that has been open all along, despite the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

Iraq had closed all its land borders with Iran in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak in early March.

Amid restrictions imposed by the Iraqi government on cross-border trade due to the spread of the new coronavirus, Iran has been directing the bulk of its exports to the neighboring country through borders with the Iraqi Kurdistan, mainly Bashmaq, Parvizkhan and Tamarchin.

Iraq is the biggest destination of Iranian exports among its neighboring countries.