Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan.20
By Fatih Karimov - Trend: A consignment of 49 Porsches, valued at $3.9 million, was imported to Iran in the calendar month of Aban (ended Nov. 21, 2013), ISNA reported on Jan. 20.
The cars were imported from the UAE and entered the country via Yazd customs. Another consignment of 8 Porsches was imported in the calendar month of Azar (ended on Dec. 21, 2013).
According to the Iranian Customs Administration, 85 Porsches were imported to the country in the first nine months of the current Iranian calendar year, started on March 21, 2013.
Porsche is not on the list of cars which are allowed to be imported into the country in the current year.
In May 2013, the Trade Promotion Organization of Iran announced the list of cars which are allowed to be imported in the current Iranian year, but renowned brands such as Porsche, Benz, BMW, Maserati, and Nissan are not on the list.
In January 2013, Iran's Ministry of Industry, Mine, and Trade banned importing cars with engines up to a 2500CC capacity.
According to the report, 17 car brands have been permitted to be imported in the current year. The cars include Hyundai (2 models), ABT, Alfa Romeo (2 models), MG, SsangYong, Toyota, Renault (6 models), and Kia (2 models).
Previously, 25 car brands were on the list, such as South Korean brands (Kia and Hyundai), Chinese brand (SAIC motors), Italian brands (Fiat, Alpha Romeo), Japanese brands (Honda, Mitsubishi), German brand (ABT), and Swedish brand (Volvo).
Iran imported 36,212 cars in the first eight months of the current Iranian calendar year, which started on March 21.
The figure shows a 32 per cent increase compared to the same period last year, the Fars News Agency reported.
The value of the imported cars was around 18.4 trillion rials (some $613.3 million based on the price of USD at the free market).
Only in the eighth calendar month 5,672 cars worth some $127.542 million were imported.
The amounts show a 36 and 25.93 percent increase in terms of number and value compared to the same month last year.
Edited by C.N.