(SHADA: TEHRAN) - Approximately 540 thousand tonnes of goods, with a total value of 223 million dollars, were exported via the Iranian Northern city of Astara customs office over the first nine months of the current calendar year (March 21 - December 21), a senior provincial customs official said.

Cement and clinker, foodstuff, agricultural and chemical products, detergents, mineral and industrial commodities, fabrics, carpets and fitted carpets, clothes, bags and shoes and construction materials constituted the main items exported from Astara mainly to Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Russia, the Head of Astara Customs Administration Jahangir Bakhshi noted.

Bakhshi further pointed out that more than 39 thousand tonnes of goods valued at 106 million dollars were also transported via Astara's transit routes, up about 34 percent in value compared to the corresponding period a year ago.

Petrochemical products, wood, cotton, artificial fibres, iron ingots, copper, glass wool and iron sheets, he explained, were the main items transited via Astra's territory from Russia, Georgia and Ukraine to such countries as Turkey, Iraq and the UAE.

The Iranian official went on to refer to the provincial customs revenues as having reached 163 million dollars, showing a whopping 156-percent growth as compared to the last year's figure.

Located in the Northern Province of Gilan, the City of Astara borders with Azerbaijan to the north and is regarded as Iran's third busiest border city in terms of goods transit.

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