“The exports mainly included fruit and vegetable, construction materials, farmed seafood, agricultural products, home appliances and metal products,” Behrouz Qarehbeygi was also quoted as saying by IRNA.
Last year’s (March 2021-22) exports from Chazzabeh to the neighboring Iraq stood at 218,724 tons worth $58.54 million.
“The removal of trade restrictions enforced following the Covid-19 pandemic contributed to the rise in exports. Before the pandemic, annual exports from Chazzabeh to Iraq stood at $350 million in some years.”
Exports from Chazzabeh have Basra and Meysan in western Iraq as the main destinations.
Iran’s total exports to Iraq stood at $7.03 billion during the period, according to a member of Iran-Iraq Chamber of Commerce.
“Exports during the seventh month of the year [Sep. 23 to Oct. 22] stood at $647 million, which was higher than the monthly average of $600 million registered during the first half of the year,” Hamid Hosseini was also quoted as saying by Fars News Agency.
He put Iran’s exports to the neighboring country in the fiscal 2021-22 at $9 billion, excluding electricity exports.
Hosseini noted that the decline in Iran’s exports to Iraq during the first half of the year was to blame on several factors, including the change of government in the neighboring country, Arbaeen commemorations that caused a temporary suspension in trade and the abolition of subsidized imports in Iran.
“We have tried hard over the years to find a foothold in the Iraqi market. At present, two other countries that are extensively active in Iraq are China and Turkey, but the products each of these countries offer do not overlap. Turkey mainly exports gold, plastic and apparel to Iraq while China sells electronic devices, home appliances and turbines. We are not prominent exporters in any of these goods, so there is no competition there,” he said.
Iraq is one of the main destinations for Iran’s agricultural and food products, as well as mineral and mining industries’ exports.