Azerbaijan, Baku, Apr. 13/ Trend F.Milad/
Iran has imported more than 1.51 million tons of rice in the past calendar year, which ended on March 19, showing a 38.7 percent growth over the preceding year, Mehr quoted a Customs Administration report as saying.
The imported rice valued at $1.25 billion was up 36.7 percent compared to the year before, the report added.
The UAE, India and Pakistan were the main exporters to Iran, with 661,000 tons, 424,000 tons and 229,000 tons of export, respectively.
In May 2011, Agricultural Jihad Minister Sadeq Khalilian said Iran's imports of agricultural products dropped by 30 percent in the calendar year, which ended on March 19, 2011.
"The reduction in imports is a big leap forward for the agricultural output," he added.