INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
TEHRAN-- Iran exported 35.5 million tons of minerals and mining items worth $9.098 billion in the very first 9 months of the present Iranian
calendar year (March 21-December 21, 2022), IRIB reported, mentioning the Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation
Organization (IMIDRO) data.As reported, the nine-month export from the mining sector increased 5 percent in regards to weight however
dropped 2 percent in terms of value year on year.Steel and steel items were the leading exported commodities in this sector, followed by
copper and its byproducts, aluminum and related products, along with other downstream products.The Islamic Republic exported $1.237 billion
worth of such minerals and mining products in the ninth calendar month of Azar (November 22-December 21), $44,000 more than the figure for
the previous month.Based on IMIDRO information, over 3.188 million tons of minerals and mining items worth $3.544 billion were also imported
into the nation during the mentioned 9 months, signing up a three-percent increase in terms of weight, and a 32-percent increase in terms of
value.Iran exported around $10.532 billion of minerals and mining items in the previous Iranian fiscal year 1400 (ended on March 20, 2022),
signing up a boost of 91 percent year on year, an official with Irans Trade Promotion Organization (TPO) has announced.According to Head of
TPOs Minerals and Mining Industries Desk Elaheh Mokri, the exports totaled up to 9.15 million tons in weight, showing a 12-percent rise
compared to the year 1399
Steel ingot with $4.156 billion worth of exports was the leading exported product in the previous year, followed by long steel items with
$1.621 billion, copper cathodes with $1.357 billion, aluminum ingots with $607 million, and flat-rolled steel items with $494 million, zinc
ingots with $477 million, iron ore and concentrate with $280 million and sponge iron with $238 million worth of exports, she said.The
above-mentioned items with a total worth of $9.230 billion represented roughly 87.6 percent of the total exports of metals and minerals in
the year 1400, the official said.Having 81 different types of minerals, Iran is among the top 10 mineral-rich nations around the world
In this regard, the Iranian government has been seriously pursuing several programs for promoting the mining sector as a significant
contributor to the nations financial growth.Irans proven iron ore reserves are 2.7 billion tons, while the countrys copper reserves are 2.6
The nation likewise has 11 million tons of zinc reserves.The overall proven reserves of Irans mines are approximated at about 60 billion
loads, which is expected to reach more than 100 billion loads with the application of the Industry, Mining, and Trade Ministrys expedition
programs over 500,000 square kilometers of new mineral zones.Despite the countrys huge potential in this location, due to some issues like
the absence of needed equipment and devices and the lack of access to financial resources and foreign investment since of the U.S
sanctions, the Iranian mining sector has been struggling to run at its optimum capacity over the past couple of years.So, the government
programs for promoting this market are generally focused on counting on domestic sources for assisting the mining sector overcome its
existing issues and hit its perfect targets.EF/ MA
