Iranian province cement exports exceed 21,000 tons

North Khorasan province exported some 21,027 tons of cement in the first six months of the current Iranian year (March 21-September 22), up by fourfold compared to the corresponding period last year, the deputy head of the provincial Industry, Mines and Trade Organization said. Mehrdad Davoudzadeh Saturday put the value of the exported amount at $13,052,000, showing threefold increase compared to the figure for the same period in the preceding year. Cement accounts for more than 17 percent of the province's exported items during the period, he told the Islamic republic news agency. In the past six months, some 82,000 tons of goods were exported abroad from the province marking a surge of 21 percent compared to the figure for corresponding period last year. Iran is among the 15 major mineral-rich countries of the world and exports its industrial and mineral products to 159 countries, including Iraq, China, the United Arab Emirates, India, and Afghanistan.