Iran\'s non-Oil Exports Hit $3b

The value of non-oil exports in Iran, from March 2000 to January 2001, hit 3.112 billion dollars, registering a 10.2 percent rise compared to that of the previous year, a statement by the customs administration was quoted by the Iranian News Agency as saying Tuesday. 

It said that 295.7 million dollars worth of petrochemicals, 262.6 million dollars worth of steel, and the same worth of pistachios were exported over the same period. 

Meanwhile, 160.5 million dollars worth of various gases, 122.9 million dollars worth of oil products and 73.5 million dollars worth of clothes were exported over the same period.  

Iran has also imported over 20 tons of goods worth of 12.1 billion dollars, showing a five percent growth in value compared to the same  

period last year, said the agency. 

Meanwhile, acting vice-president of the National Iranian Oil Company, Hojjatollah Ghanimifard, told IRNA that Iran expects to earn about 20 billion dollars from crude oil exports next year. 

"If oil prices remain in the present mode, and there are no more production cuts, we hope to earn about $20 billion," he said. 

Iran, the second largest producer within OPEC, was forecasted to earn 11.5 billion dollars from crude exports in its current budget, said the agency -- Albawaba.com