Iran ups Non-Oil exports by 21 percent

"Iran's non-oil exports hit $11.242 billion in the first three months of the current year, showing a 21 percent rise compared to last year's corresponding period," Iran's Customs Administration announced.

It also said that the statistics showed that $9.984 billion worth of commodities were imported to the country during the period.

In relevant remarks earlier in June, a senior Iranian trade official announced that the country "is trying to find ways to boost its exports to the US despite the threat of sanctions after Washington's withdrawal from the nuclear deal.

The Trade Promotion Organization is now preparing the ground for further exports of Iran's agricultural and food products to the US markets, Director of the Exports Bureau of the TPO Mahmoud Bazari said.

He went on to say that most agricultural and food brands in Iran export their products to the US, adding the exports have high added-value for the Iranian brands.

Bazari referred to the US move to withdraw unilaterally from the Iran nuclear deal, and expressed the hope the pullout would not hamper the Iranian companies' exports to the US.

He added the exports are carried out through some third countries including Mexico, Canada and certain European states.

Bazari said Iranian companies are seeking to expand their exports to the US, adding Iranian ice creams have already opened its way into the US market just recently.

Iran announced in January that it had exported its prized caviar to the US after receiving the necessary license from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

"We have exported 10kg of natural caviar to the US last year after receiving license from the FDA in the years 2016 and 2017," Managing-Director of Agricultural Services of Specialized Holding Company Abbas Rajayee said.

He added that Iran intends to increase exports of the precious product to other countries.

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