Iran Exports Plunge by 20% Due to Coronavirus
IRAN NEWS ECONOMIC DESK
TEHRAN – Head of Iran’s Trade Promotion Organization says Iran’s exports have fallen by 27% since the outbreak of the Coronavirus as the WTO had predicted it for international trade.
Hamid Zadboom, by referring to the World Trade Organization’s recent report and prediction about the future of the international trade after the outbreak of the coronavirus, said that closure of factories, restrictions for passengers and drivers and restrictions on exports by the countries are the major reasons for the slump in the international trade.
He added that almost 15 neighboring countries account for almost 60 percent of Iran’s exports, adding that Iran has land border with 7 countries and marine border with 8 more countries.
Zadboom added that in such a condition and lockdown in countries, it is natural that the volume of trade falls and according to the WTO prediction, the trade will slump by 13 percent in the optimistic and 32 percent in the pessimist condition, admitting that Iran’s exports have fallen by 20 percent.
On the imports of raw material, intermediary and essential commodities, he said since January 26, the value of imports stood at $8b which is the same as the figure registered for the same period last year because those trades are done through ports.
He added that land border with Afghanistan is open and only 3 borders from 9 borders of Iraq are currently open. He also said that trade with Turkey is done via railway and land border is still closed.
He added that the volume of trade since January 26 till April 3 fell by 20 percent in terms of weight and 27 percent in terms of value.
Zadbom went on to say that the government has approved incentives for exports for the current year which will worth some 600b tomans.
He also called for boosting infrastructures for transportation especially railway which is very important for exports.
He reiterated helping exporters in transportation will be a great incentive for them to increase their exports.
Zadboom added that talks with Kuwait have begun for expanding trade while talks with Qatar for boosting trade are underway.
