The industry accounted for only 15% of the country’s non-oil exports during the first eight months of 1402. However, the share of imports in this sector of the country’s total imports was 68%. The industry’s small share of non-oil exports is due to reasons such as currency policies, increased competition in export markets, restrictions resulting from sanctions, and industry issues including constraints in foreign currency supply, working capital, and raw materials. Current export markets are also under serious threat. On the other hand, the narrowing of trade partners in the industry to a few neighboring countries including Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, the UAE, Turkey, and China signals a warning that any tension in political and economic relations with these countries could threaten the country’s industry, production, and the balance of industrial imports and exports.
