Financial Tribune - The import of 1,339 commodities was banned last year and plans are to add more to the list.

"The number of items in the import ban list will reach 1,530 in the current Iranian year (March 2019-20) to shore up support for domestic production," Deputy Minister of Industries, Mining and Trade Farshad Moqimi was quoted as saying by IRIB News.

"Last year’s import restrictions opened up new markets worth more than $5 billion for local products," he added.

Later in January, the ministry removed 47 commodities from the list of banned imports. Commodities liberalized under the new directive, which come under the wide-ranging categories of “automotives and locomotives”, “mining and mineral industries”, “power and electricity”, “textile and clothing”, “metal and home appliances” and “agriculture” include apparel, footwear, automobiles, copper, lead and tin ore and concentrate, leather, ventilation products, fluorescent lighting, batteries, gas meters and milk powder.