TEHRAN Iran's Customs Administration said in a statement that Iran-Saudi Arabia surplus trade balance stood at $6.9 million last year.
The value of Iran's imports from and exports to Saudi Arabia in 1999 exceeded $46.7 million and $53.6 million respectively.
The report said Iran's exports to Saudi Arabia rose by 32.3 percent last year compared to 1998. The exported items included cathode copper worth $14.9 million, carpet $12.9 million, benzene $4.2 million, white cement $3.5 million, and apples $2.8 million.
Saudi Arabia accounted for 1.5 percent of Iran's total non-oil exports last year.
Polypropylene worth $12.1 million, dioxide titanium $6.3 million, polyester fabrics $5.7 million, gas cooler $4.1 million, and polyester threads $3.9 million, were among major items imported from Saudi Arabia by Iran last year.
Saudi Arabia accounted 0.5 percent of Iran's total imports last year.
The value of Iran's imports from Saudi Arabia and exports to the country in 1998 stood at $67.8 million and $40.5 million respectively.
Iran-Saudi Arabia trade balance showed a 27.3-million-dollar deficit in 1998.
Saudi Arabia ranks 19th in the list of countries importing goods from Iran in 1998. The country's ranking went up to 16 in 1999.
(IRNA)