MNA � Islamic Republic of Iran overtook neighboring Turkey in export of products to Iraq in 2018, according to secretary general of Iran-Iraq Joint Chamber of Commerce.

Secretary General of Iran-Iraq Joint Chamber of Commerce Hamid Hosseini made the remark in an interview with IRNA on Sat. and put Turkey�s exports value of products to Iraq in 2018 at $7.35 billion.

He also put Iran�s exports value of products to neighboring Iraq in 2018 at $8.75 billion.

In total, Turkey exported $154 billion worth of products in 2017, $8.3 billion worth of which was exported to Iraq.

Turkey�s export of products in 2018 reached from $154 billion to $163 billion, he said, adding, �despite Turkey�s exports growth, the country�s share of exports to Iraq declined about $1 billion.�

The secretary general added, �statistics of Iran�s export of products to neighboring Iraq in 2018 show that the Islamic Republic exported $8.75 billion worth of products to Iraq in 2018, so that this figure excludes transit and medical tourism.�

In this regard, Turkish share of Iraq�s service market surpasses Iran in terms of health tourism, he maintained.

Elsewhere in his remarks, he emphasized that Iran will increase its exports to Iraq, adding, �although export of goods may face significant decline, Iran�s export of services would be accelerated.�

Hosseini put the trade volume exchanged between Iran and Iraq in 2018 at $6.502 billion, so that Iran and Iraq accounted for $6.425 billion and $77 million respectively.

Iran's export of products to Iraq in the nine months of current year (March 21 � Dec. 21) hit $7.322 billion, showing a significant growth as compared to the same period last year, the secretary general concluded.