The European Union is on course to export a record of over Euro 10 billion ($12.7 billion) worth of goods to Iran in 2004, after showing a 25 percent rise in the
first half of the year to hit Euro 5.4 billion.
According to IRNA, in contrast Iranian exports to the world's biggest trading bloc grew by just 6 percent to amount to Euro 3.5 billion between January and June
compared with the same period in 2003.
The huge growth in EU exports was led by Iran's three largest suppliers, Germany, Italy and France, whose sales together stood at Euro 3.85 billion, accounting for 77 percent of the rise.
Exports from Germany in the first half of 2004 rose to Euro 1.6 billion from Euro 1.2 billion in the same period last year. Sales from France grew from Euro 833 million to Euro 1.2 billion, overtaking Italy`s increase of Euro 128 m to Euro 1 billion in second place. (menareport.com)
