Livestock and food inputs comprise more than 64% of the country's imports

The deputy official of the Iran and Africa Business Club said: 64.5 % of the country’s imports in the spring season were by weight and 27.1 % by value related to livestock inputs, livestock products, agriculture and food.

According to Sada Sima news agency, Seyyed Ruhollah Latifi, an economic activist and former spokesman of customs regarding the import of food, livestock and agricultural products to the country in the spring, said: In the first quarter of this year, nearly 5,518,000 tons of goods worth $3,802,837,000, livestock, fishery, agricultural and food products were imported into the country. This amount was 64.5% of the weight and 27.1% of the import value of 8,557,000 tons to the country worth $14,018,533,000 in the spring season.

He added: The import of agricultural, food, livestock and fishery products in spring compared to the same period last year decreased by ½ % in terms of weight and increased by 5% in terms of value.

The deputy official of Iran and Africa Business Club explained about the first seven items of imported agricultural goods: This spring, more than 2,445,000 tons of livestock corn worth $1,006,000,000 were imported and cleared. Compared to the same period, it has been associated with a 46% growth in weight and 57% in value, which has taken the first place among imported goods. After corn, edible and natural oils weighing 402,000 tons and worth $663,380,000 (33% growth in weight and 28% in value). Soybeans weighing 593,000 tons and worth $446.5 million (11% growth in weight and 15% in value). Types of rice weighing 336,000 tons and worth $396,000,000 (38% decrease in weight and 17% in value), wheat weighing 791,000 tons and worth $349,000,000 (48% decrease in weight and 44% in value). Barley weighing 396,000 tons and worth $157.5 million (121% growth in weight and 129% in value). Livestock and fishery products weighing 22.5 thousand tons and worth $92,000,000 (29% decrease in weight and 17% increase in value). The first seven imported goods of the country were in the field of food and agriculture.

Regarding other imported goods, Latifi said: $87 million bananas, $67.2 million refined sugar, $60.2 million of tea, $50 million of beans, $50 million of flour, $43 million of cocoa, $31.3 million of coffee, $15 million of sesame, $13 million of spices, $12 million of mangoes, more than $6 million of peanuts, $5 million of pumpkin seeds, $5 million of coconuts, $4.7 million of food additives, $3.5 million of prepared coffee and $2.5 million of pineapples were among the main products imported into the country in the spring season, along with all kinds of seeds and additives in the field of agriculture, livestock and food.

This economic expert added: Considering the role of the Ministry of Jihad and Agriculture in foreign trade due to the share of more than 64% of the import of livestock inputs, agricultural and food products of the country’s total imports and the emphasis of the supreme leader of the revolution, it is necessary to strengthen food security. Based on the popularization policies of the 13th government, the conditions for increasing productivity in production based on climate and water resources, the use of knowledge-based companies in planning, infrastructure, production and supply chain should be considered which we hope will be on the agenda soon.