Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug.17
By Fatih Karimov - Trend:
Iran imported 34,134 cars in the first four months of the current Iranian year.
Iran's car imports rose by 168 percent compared to the same period in the previous year, Iran's ISNA news agency reported on August 17.
In the past Iranian year, which ended on March 20, Iran imported 78,673 cars, showing 75 percent rise year on year.
In February, Iranian MP Ali Alilou said Iran is planning scrap all car import tariffs in the next two years.
Alilou, who is a member of the Majlis Industries and Mines Committee, said the measure is necessary to boost domestic production and make the auto industry competitive. The MP urged the government to stop propping up Iran's struggling automobile sector, which has been criticized for the low quality and high prices of its products.
Iran's car exports dropped by over 800 percent in 2013 compared to the year before. However, after an easing of sanctions in the wake of the six-month interim deal with the world powers in Geneva, Iran's car exports increased significantly.
On the other hand, after a 5-year hiatus, Russia received its first batch of Iranian made cars on June 28.
According to the monthly reports of the Iranian Customs Administration, Iran exported around $42 million worth of cars between December 22, 2012-December 22, 2013 (Iran's fiscal year), while the value of exports was $338 million in the previous fiscal year.
Since signing the interim nuclear deal, between January 20 and March 20, Iran exported $43 million worth of cars, more than it had exported in the whole 2013.
Iraq accounted for half of the import of Iranian cars. Azerbaijan accounted for 25 percent. Ukraine and Egypt accounted for the rest.
During the four-month period that ended on May 20, Iran exported over $100 million worth of cars and car parts.