Iran imported some $ 17.2 billion worth of goods and exported around $ 12 billion during the first four months of this year, which began on March 20, the Customs Administration head announced on Tuesday.

Abbas Memarnejad said that imports showed a 12.5 percent rise in weight but seven percent fall in value compared to the figures covering the same period last year, the Fars News Agency reported.

Exports, though, fell by 7.5 percent in weight and 16 percent in value compared to the previous year, he noted.

Iran conducted economic transactions with 150 countries in the last calendar year, the finance and economic affairs minister said on Sunday.

Discussing the figures, Shamseddin Hosseini said that 80 countries transited their products through Iran, according to the IRNA News Agency.

Iran continues trading with the world at a time when certain countries are trying to put hurdles in front of its economic progress, the minister said.

Iran’s annual trade turnover is projected to reach $ 160 billion by the end of the fifth five-year development plan (March 2016), an official with the Trade Promotion Organization of Iran (TPOI) said in May.

Kiyumars Fathollah Kermanshahi added that the value of annual imports and exports are planned to reach $ 77 billion and $ 83 billion respectively by 2016.