Azerbaijan, Baku, Jun.26/ Trend F.Milad/
Exports of handmade carpets from Iran grew by seven percent in value during the first two months of the current calendar year (began on March 20) compared to the same period last year, statistics of the Customs Administration show, ISNA reported.
Over 546 tons of handmade carpets, valued at around $55.4 million, were exported during the mentioned two-month period, showing 7.4 percent rise in value, but two percent decline in weight.
Qatar was the main importer of Iranian carpets, accounting for $15.2 million of the total imports. Pakistan, Japan, Germany, and UAE were among other major importers.
Iran exported over $560 million worth of handmade carpets to 80 countries in the past calendar year.
According to the Customs Administration data, the carpet exports rose by 0.8 percent in value, but decreased by 15.4 percent in weight, compared to the year before.
Iran has developed plans to export as much as $1 billion worth of carpets in the current calendar year, said the head of the National Carpet Center on April 7.
"Carpet is of great importance in non-oil exports of the Islamic Republic," Baqer Aqa-Alikhani said, adding that boosting carpet exports to UAE and China has been highlighted, the Mehr News Agency reported.