Iran’s car exports at over $2 mln in H1 calendar year

Iranian-made cars were exported to five countries in first half of the calendar year that started in March, customs figures show, despite sanctions targeting the country’s manufacturing and trade sectors.

Figures published in a Saturday report by Fars news agency showed that Iran had exported some $2.054 million worth of cars in the six months to September 21.

The report, citing figures from Iran’s customs office, said Iranian-made cars had been delivered to customers in Spain, Belarus, Turkey, China and Iraq, and some special economic zones (SEZs) in the six months to late September.

Iraq was the largest buyer of Iranian car models over the period with some $1.305 million worth of purchases, followed by China at $0.567 million, the figures showed.

The data showed the value of Iranian car exports to Spain, which took place for a first time this year, reached $0.114 million in the six months to late September.

The figures only cover exports of finished cars that have been registered at Iranian customs offices or SEZs.

That comes as Iranian car manufacturers have set up plants in countries in several continents to assemble their products or to produce models that they have jointly developed with foreign companies.

Iran has increasingly relied on its home-grown automotive sector in recent years despite sanctions that have caused restrictions to access to foreign technology.

However, a government ban on imports of cars from other countries has led to a major increase in production and exports of Iranian-made cars in recent years.

Iran’s industry ministry said in July that car output in the country would reach 1.7 million units in the calendar year that ends in late March, up from 1.335 million cars produced in the previous calendar year.

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