Non-oil trade between Iran and Thailand grew to $410 million in the first half of this year, up 75 per cent over the comparable 2006 figure of $234.60m, the Iranian ambassador to Thailand said on Saturday. Mohsen Pakaeen did not provide any figures on Thai oil imports from his country.
But he said the “non-oil” trade was heavily in Thailand’s favor – $391 million worth of exports to Iran against just $18.94 million in imports from Teheran.
The ambassador said he has called on Iranian businessmen to visit Thailand more often in order to continue the export growth in both directions, citing improved flights between Teheran and Bangkok which “make the situation proper for the traders,” the Iranian news agency Mehr News Agency reported.
Thailand’s main exports to Iran in the first half of the year were rice worth $91.9 million, radio and TV accessories ($60.2 million) and air conditioner parts ($48.6 million), Pakaeen said.