TEHRAN – Markazi (Central) Province earned the first place in nation’s industrial and petrochemical exports last year, Reza Mohammadi said here Tuesday.

The head of Markazi Province’s trade organization also noted that earnings from the exports to 68 countries came to $507.363m for the period (March 21, 2005 to March 20, 2006), registering 807.275 tons in weight.

According to the statistics released by the organization, industrial and mineral sector had the lion’s share of the exports at 636.157 tons while petrochemical and agricultural products claimed 151.819 and 15.102 tons in that order. This is 3.4% increase over the last year with 28% growth in value.

Markazi Province is considered one of Iran’s major industrial poles and over 90% of nation’s industrial and petrochemical exports roll out from the city of Arak in this province.