BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 2
By Elnur Baghishov – Trend:
Iran spent about $15 billion to import strategically important goods during the first four months of the current Iranian year (from March 21 through July 22, 2021), Trend reports citing Central Bank of Iran (CBI).
According to the report, currency supplying increased by 27 percent, compared to the same period last Iranian year.
“The funds were provided at a discounted interest rate for the import of strategically important goods, medical equipment and medicines over the 4 months. These funds increased by 70 percent compared to the same period last Iranian year and amounted to $4.6 billion,” the report said.
So, $1.54 billion was provided for imports of corn, barley and wheat, $1.12 billion for imports of oilseeds and crude edible oil, $1.17 billion for medicines and medical equipment, and $348 million for compressed soybeans, the report said.
According to the report, $10.4 billion was provided for the import of other strategically important goods. This is an increase of 15 percent compared to the same period last Iranian year. Of this, 3.56 billion was provided for import of equipment.
“In addition, exporters sold an average of about $8 billion worth of currency to banks at the NIMA exchange rate (where $1 equals to 218,000 rials) in the four months of the current Iranian year. This is an increase of about 55 percent, compared to the same period last Iranian year,” the report said.
Also, banknotes worth an average of $515 million (with $1 equals to 232,000 rials), as well as, banknotes worth about 94 million euro (with 1 euro equals 276,000 rials) were traded in the foreign currency market over the 4 months. This is an increase of 286 percent and 661 percent, respectively, compared to the same period last Iranian year, the report said.