Exports via this northern province increased by 23 and 20 per cent in terms of volume and value, respectively, for the first 10 months of the current Iranian calendar year (started March 21, 2006) compared with figures in the previous year, a local official said here Wednesday.

Gilan Customs Department supervisor Ardeshir Mohammadi told IRNA the province exported some 485,447 tons of commodities valued at US$294.481 million during the above-stated period.

He said that minerals, agricultural products, carpets, moquettes and petrochemicals were the main goods exported.

The goods were exported to Central Asia, Russia, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, the United Arab Emirates, Armenia, Turkey and Romania, the official added.

On the other hand, Mohammadi said the province imported more than 3.251 million tons of commodities valued at over US$1.6 billion during the same period.

The official said that its imports point to increases of 17 and 22 per cent in weight and value, respectively, compared to the previous year's imports.

He noted that ironware, machineries, wood and electric devices were among the main commodities imported to Bandar Anzali from Central Asian countries.

He said Gilan Customs Department earned a total of rls 892.058 billion during the same period.