FNA - Iran's trade surplus of minerals observed a significant growth during the first eight months of the current Iranian year (March 21, 2018-November 22, 2018), Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization announced.

Iranian producers exported some 39.88 million tons of mineral products worth $6.87 billion during the eight-month span, registering a 10% decrease in volume and 7% increase in value in comparison with last year's corresponding period.


Iran's trade surplus of mineral products hiked to $4.58 billion during the said period.


The exports of semi-finished and finished steel products, which stood at about 6.58 million tons worth about $3.29 billion, took the lions share of Iran�s mineral trades in the past eight months.


Iran has 68 types of minerals with more than 37 billion tons of proven reserves and 57 billion tons of potential reserves.


Iran holds the world's largest zinc, ninth largest copper, 10th largest iron ore, fifth largest gypsum and barite, and 10th largest uranium reserves.