Diversity in Iran's non-oil exports led to rapid growth

The rapid growth in Iran's non-oil exports in recent years was due to a policy of non-dependence on oil income and diversification of goods and services exported.

Iran's non-oil exports from 1995 to 1998 were valued at USD 3 billion and rose to USD 3.917 and USD 4.422 billion in 2001 and 2002, respectively.

Non-oil exports in 2003 surpassed USD 6 billion and rose to USD 10.5 billion dollars in 2005.

Non-oil exports further rose after 2005, reaching USD 12 billion for the first time in its history and surpassing targets in the Fourth Five-Year Development Plan.

The figures point to an upward trend in the volume and value of non-oil goods and services in recent years consistent with the trend of development due largely to the government's policies, particularly its policy of weaning the country from its dependence on oil exports.

According to official statistics, Iran exported USD 88.995 billion worth of goods between 1989 and 1993 and imported USD 99.529 billion worth of commodities in the same period.

Total exports of non-oil commodities stood at USD 15.928, 76.048 while oil and gas exports stood at 91.976 billion during the Second Five-Year Economic Development Plan (1995-1999). During this period the country imported USD 69.605 billion non-oil commodities.

Iran's imports and exports showed a considerable growth in volume due to increased domestic demand and projects successfully implemented in the Third Five-Year Development Plan.

Iran exported USD 158.445 billion worth of goods in the Third Development Plan showing a 72 percent boost compared with the figure in the Second Development Plan. It imported USD 123.011 billion worth of commodities in the same period which shows a 77 percent increase compared with the figure in the Second Development Plan.

Total non-oil exports and total amount of goods exported showed 48 and near 37 percent increases in 2005 compared with the previous year.

The average annual growth in export of goods, non-oil commodities and industrial products stood at 2.5, 5.6 and 13.2 respectively in the years between 1991 and 2001, while the figure for imports showed a 3.2 percent decrease in this 10-year period.

Total exports is predicted to hit some USD 38.082 billion by the end of the Fourth Five-Year Development Plan (2009).

Iran is also expected to export USD 12.817 and 31.938 billion worth of non-oil goods by 2009 and 2015 respectively. Total imports is predicted to hit USD 42.388 and 63.372 billion in 2009 and 2015 respectively.

irna.com