Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec.11 / Trend A.Yusifzade /
Roughly 6.795 million tons of goods have been transited via Iran for the first eight months of this year [current Iranian calendar]. The figure amount to 157.43 millions euro or 46 percent compared to the previous year's figure, Jabary, the head of the Iranian Customs Transit Supervisory Office, was quoted by Business & Economical News Agency, as saying.
During this period, the total volume of transit through customs Shahid Rajai, Sarahs, Bashmag, Khosro, Bazargan hit about 78 percent.
Azerbaijan, Iraq, China, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan are among the top destinations for transiting goods via the Islamic Republic.
Earlier, Iranian deputy minister of road and transportation said that the volume of transit goods passing through Iran has reached 45 percent for the first seven months of this year, compared to the same period of 2009, Press TV reported.
"Roughly 5.741 million tons of goods have been transited via Iran for the first seven months of this year [current Iranian calendar]. It hits 45 percent compared to the previous year's figure," Iranian Deputy Minister of Road and Transportation Shahriar Afandizade was quoted by IRNA as saying.
Afandizade made the remarks in the capital of the south-western Iranian province of Khuzestan. He touted Iran's significant transit potential for producing tons of non-oil products that have been transferred via Iran's various export terminals.
He further predicted that the total volume of both oil and non-oil products transported by road and railway would reach approximately 10 million tons this year, exceeding 7 million tons of goods transferred last year.
The Iranian official also stressed high potentials for the country's progress in the areas of export and import. He noted that using these capabilities will play a significant role in creating jobs and bringing more national wealth for the Iranian nation.
"Iranian geographical advantage due to its accessibility of transiting via north-south and west-east corridors has provided the country with the best chance to transit goods to Central Asian, European and African countries, as well as Russia," Afandizade noted.
Afghanistan, Iraq, Azerbaijan, UAE and Turkmenistan are among the top destinations for transit of goods via the Islamic Republic.
According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Iran is the third country in the Middle East and Central Asia in terms of export and import.
In its latest report called 'Regional Economic Outlook: Middle East and Central Asia,' the IMF said that Iranian exports of goods and services in 2010 would amount to $95 billion.
This figure marks a $7.9 billion increase compared to the same period of last year. It was forecasted that the volume of Iranian export of goods and services will increase up to $98 billion in 2011.