TEHRAN – Iran exported some 121,000 tons of cement for $6.8 million in the first three months of the current Iranian year, down 10% in value compared to the same period last year.

Export of building materials, including clinker, ceramic tiles, gypsum, cement, insulators, stone, and glass and mirror, totaled 421,000 tons, at $73.4 million, in the said period, showing 47.5% increase compared to the corresponding period last year. Iranian-made building materials are mostly exported to Iraq, China, Kuwait, the UAE, and Azerbaijan.

West-East Transit Route to be activated

TEHRAN – Work is expected to begin soon on a transit route that carries loads of goods to and from Greek ports to Afghanistan and Pakistan through Syria, Iraq, and Iran.

Bandar Abbas (south), Dogharun and Sarakhs (east), Khosravi and Bazargan (west), and Astara (north) border customs account for the lion’s share of transit through Iran, which totaled 2.32 million tons of goods, up 13.5% compared to the same period last year. Road transit accounted for 45% of the volume while 41% was swapped and 14% was transited via railroad.

Sistan-Baluchestan to develop trade ties with Afghanistan

ZAHEDAN, Sistan-Baluchestan Prov. – A high level of economic relations between Sistan-Baluchestan and Afghan provinces will greatly help people on both sides of the border, the governor-general of this southeastern Iranian province said on Sunday.

During his visit to the Afghan city of Zaranj, capital of Nimruz Province, Habib Dahmardeh met with his counterpart in this southeastern Afghan province, which shares borders with Iran and Pakistan. The Iranian government has pledged to help with reconstruction of Afghanistan. “Part of this financial aid will be used in reconstruction projects in Nimruz,” the Iranian official stated.

“We want to supply fuel and workforce to your province and train experts to build the infrastructure here,” he told the Afghan official.

Bushehr Customs earns over $40.2m in 3 months

BUSHEHR – In the first three months of the current Iranian year (March 21-June 21), the provincial Customs Department earned 40.25 million dollars, an official from the office said in Genaveh on Sunday.

The Bushehr Customs exported $247 million in the said period, which showed 120 percent increase compared to the same period last year. “We also registered import of $217 million of goods in this three-month period, which showed a 14% slump,” Tamjidi added.

Afghans to buy Iran’s tractors

TEHRAN – An Iranian trade delegation arrived in Kabul on Sunday in line with exploring new markets for products of the Iran Tractor Manufacturing Company (ITMC).

The delegation has planned to meet with representatives from Afghanistan’s trade, agriculture, and economy ministries. If an agreement is reached by the two sides, the ITMC will export 2000 tractors to Afghanistan in order to help this neighboring country mechanize its agriculture.