Iran's economy at a glance
About 10 percent of the land in Iran is arable; agriculture employs a third of the labor force.
The main food-producing areas are in the Caspian region and in the northwest provinces of Iran.
Wheat, the most important crop, is grown mainly in the west and northwest of Iran; rice is the major crop in the Caspian region. Barley, corn, cotton, sugar beets, tea, hemp, tobacco, fruits (including citrus varieties), nuts, and dates are also grown, and livestock is raised.
About one third of the cultivated land is irrigated; the construction of multipurpose dams and reservoirs along the rivers in the Zagros and Elburz mountains has increased the amount of water available for irrigation.
Agricultural programs of modernization, mechanization, and crop and livestock improvement, as well as programs for the redistribution of land are increasing agricultural production.
The northern slopes of the Elburz mountains are heavily wooded, and forestry products are economically important; the cutting of trees is rigidly controlled by the government, which also has a reforestation program.
Salmon, carp, trout, and pike populate the rivers entering the Caspian Sea, while sturgeon are abundant in the Caspian Sea.
Of the variety of natural resources found in Iran, petroleum (discovered in 1908 in Khuzestan province) and natural gas are by far the most important. Its chief oil fields are found in the central and southwestern parts of the Zagros Mountains in the western part of Iran.
Oil also is found in North Iran and in the offshore waters of the Persian Gulf. Pipelines move oil from the fields to the refineries and to such exporting ports as Abadan, Bandar-e Mashur, and Khark Island.
Domestic oil and gas, along with hydroelectric power facilities, provide the country with power.
Copper, gold, iron ore and coal are among the main mineral resources of Iran.
Petrochemicals, car manufacturing, and iron and steel manufacturing are among the countries major industries.
Traditional handicrafts such as carpet weaving and the manufacture of ceramics, silk, and jewelry are important to the economy as well.
Besides crude and refined petroleum, Iran's chief exports are chemical and petrochemical products, fruits, nuts, carpets, hides, and iron and steel; its chief imports are industrial raw materials, capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods, technical services.
Iran's chief trading partners are China, Japan, Germany, Italy and the Republic of Korea.
(China Daily 02/18/2008 page15)
