TEHRAN (Tasnim) � Iran plans to export 400,000 metric tons of durum wheat as its total domestic production continue to increase, an official said.

�This year, despite a decrease in rain, thanks to the motivation of farmers and the support given to them, an additional 1.4 million tons of wheat was purchased compared to last year,� Bloomberg quoted Iranian Deputy Agriculture Minister Ali Qanbari as saying on Sunday.

Iran bought 8.08 million tons of wheat from local farmers this year, Ghanbari added.

Iran won�t need to import wheat because local supplies are sufficient, he had said back in August.

Iran ranks with Turkey as the second-largest wheat buyer in the Middle East, behind Egypt, the world�s biggest wheat importer.

Iran�s new administration, which took office in August 2013, has voiced determination to increase the volume of the country's non-oil exports.

By Tasnim News Agency