BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 26
By Elnur Baghishov – Trend:
Iran's agricultural products exports increased by 22.5 percent in terms of volume and by 10.05 percent in terms of value during the first 5 months of the current Iranian year (March 20-August 21, 2020) compared to the same period last Iranian year, Deputy Director of Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA) Mehrdad Jamal Arvanaghi said, Trend reports citing IRICA.
The deputy director emphasized that Iran exported more than 3 million tons of agricultural products worth $2.11 billion during the reporting period.
He added that while in the same period last year, Iran exported 2.48 million tons of agricultural products worth $1.92 billion.
Arvanaghi said that the despite the spread of the coronavirus and US sanctions against Iran, the increase in agricultural products of Iran is considered an important step.
According to the deputy director, Iran mainly exported pistachios, tomatoes, watermelons, tomato paste, cheese, biscuits, sweets and chocolate during five months.
"Iran's agricultural products were mainly exported to Iraq, Afghanistan, the UAE, Russia, Pakistan, China, Turkey, Germany, Hong Kong and India," he said.
As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, borders with many countries have been closed, therefore, Iran's trade turnover with other countries reduced to a minimum. Iran has begun to increase trade with other countries with the gradual opening of border checkpoints since the end of June.
Iran continues to monitor the coronavirus situation in the country. According to recent reports from the Iranian officials, over 363,300 people have been infected, and 20,901 people have already died. Meanwhile, over 313,000 have reportedly recovered from the disease.
The country continues to apply strict measures to contain further spread. Reportedly, the disease was brought to Iran by a businessman from Iran's Qom city, who went on a business trip to China, despite official warnings. The man died later from the disease.
The Islamic Republic only announced its first infections and deaths from the coronavirus on Feb. 19.
The outbreak in the Chinese city of Wuhan - which is an international transport hub - began at a fishing market in late December 2019.
The World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11 declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Some sources claim the coronavirus outbreak started as early as November 2019.
The US imposed new sanctions on Iran in November 2018. Over the past period, the sanctions affected Iranian oil exports, more than 700 banks, companies and individuals.