February 24, 2012

Iran's grain imports reach over 3.7 million tonnes

In the first 10 months beginning March 21, 2011, Iran has imported more than 3.7 million tonnes of wheat, corn and barley, a local news agency reported.

During the aforementioned period, some 9200 tonnes of wheat has also been exported, the report added. Wheat production in Iran reached about 13.5 million tonnes in 2011 indicating no change compared to the figure for 2010.

According to a report released by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, Iran imported 1.3 million tonnes of wheat in the current year which shows an increase of 100 kilo tonnes compared to the figure for the previous year of 1.2 million tonnes.

According to the report, total wheat reserves of the country dropped from three million tonnes in 2010 to 2.1 million tonnes in the current year.

Iran also produced 3.7 million tonnes of barley in 2011 and the figure shows no change compared to the amount for 2010. The report put the amount of Iran's barley imports in 2011 at 400 kilo tonnes which is equal to the figure for 2010.

Iran's corn production also rose from one million tonnes in 2010 to 1.3 million tonnes in 2011 which shows a 30% increase.

A growth in domestic corn production helped reduce the import of the agro product to Iran from 3.4 million tonnes in 2010 to three million tonnes in 2011. Production of other types of grain in Iran increased from 4.7 million tonnes in 2010 to five million tonnes in 2011.