Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb.5/ Trend F.Milad
Some 135 million dollars' worth of handmade carpets were exported from Iran's East Azerbaijan province in the first 10 months of the current Iranian year which began March 20, 2012, the head of East Azerbaijan Industry, Mine and Trade Organisation said on Tuesday.
The third edition of the East Azerbaijan Handmade Carpet Fairs will kick off on February 10; the IRNA News Agency quoted Mohammad-Ja'far Ozamayi as saying.
Great sales will be offered at the fair, he said, noting that the event will close on March 12.
Iran totally exported over 361 million dollars' worth of handmade carpet in the first 10 months of the current Iranian calendar year.
The amount shows 17.75 per cent decrease compared to the same period of time previous year.
China, South Africa, Russia, and Indonesia were the main destination markets.
Deputy Head of the National Carpet Centre Mohammad-Ali Zarineh said last month that Iran plans to export one billion dollars' worth of handmade carpets by the end of current Iranian calendar year (March 19, 2013), showing a 100 per cent increase compared to the previous year.
Iran exported 500 million dollars' worth of handmade carpets last year.
According to the Customs Administration data, carpet exports last year rose by 0.8 per cent in value, but decreased by 15.4 per cent in weight, compared to its preceding year.
The Iranian industry, mine and trade minister announced in September 2012 that Iran is currently exporting carpets to 80 countries of the world despite all the sanctions targeting Iran's economic sector.
Mehdi Ghazanfari added that USA, Germany, Italy, UAE, Japan and Switzerland are the main targets for Iranian carpets.
According to officials, Iran's carpet export falls in the first half of each year, but grows in the second half.
Iran's carpet exports accounted for some 24 percent of the world's total carpet trade in the previous Iranian calendar year, which ended March 19.