Tasnim � The total value of Iranian exports to China from January to November this year reached about $20 billion, data released by the East Asian country�s customs showed.

The Chinese imports from Iran in the first 11 months of 2018 reached $19.7 billion, showing a 16 percent increase compared to the same period last year, according to China�s customs office.

The total value of Iranian exports to China from January to November 2017 had amounted to $16.9 billion, the data showed.

China's exports to Iran from January to November 2018 stood at $13.7 billion, decreasing by 17 percent compared to the same period in 2017. China exported $16.5 billion worth of goods to the Islamic Republic in the first 11 months of 2017.

Iran�s balance of trade- the difference between the monetary value of exports and imports - amounted to $6bln this year, according to the report.

The rise in the country�s exports comes despite the US sanctions against Iran.

US President Donald Trump walked away from the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers in May and re-imposed sanctions on the Islamic Republic.

Following the US exit from the nuclear deal, Iran and the remaining parties launched talks to save the accord.

Trump on August 6 signed an executive order re-imposing many sanctions on Iran, three months after pulling out of the Iran nuclear deal.

He said the US policy is to levy �maximum economic pressure� on the country.

The second batch of US sanctions against the Islamic Republic took effect on November 4.