IRNA says Mr. Rouhollah Latifi, a spokesman for Iran’s Customs Administration, noted on July 14 that Iran has traded 12.34 million tons of non-oil goods worth 9.86 billion U.S. dollars with member nations and observer countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) over the second quarter of this year. 

Iran has reportedly exported 10.213 million tons of goods worth 5.5 billion dollars to the SCO members in this period, which show 20 percent increase compared to the same period last year.

Moreover, Iran has imported 2.167 million tons of goods worth 4.34 billion U.S. dollars from those countries over the second quarter of this year, proving a 41-percent increase compared to the same period last year. 

IRNA notes that China was Iran’s top export destination over the reporting period among SCO member nations and observer countries, and India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus, and Mongolia were in the next places.

China was reportedly also the top exporter to Iran, followed by India, Russia, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, and Mongolia.

Table: Iran's trade with SCO member and observer nations in Q2, 2022 (denominated in million USD)

Source: IRNA

Recall, the Islamic Republic of Iran came one step closer to becoming a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) on September 17 last year with the approval of its bid, 15 years after it first applied.  On September 17, 2021, the SCO launched the procedures of Iran's accession to the SCO and Iran is now completing formalities to make it official.  Iran is expected to be admitted to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) this year, with a memorandum on the country's obligations to be signed at a summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, which will take place from September 15-16.  

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization was founded at a Summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.  It was preceded by the Shanghai Five mechanism.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization currently has eight full members -- China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, India, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

Besides, Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran and Mongolia are four observer states.

SCO’s dialogue partners include Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Turkey.  ACEAN, CIS, Turkmenistan and the United Nations are guest attendances.

Initially focused on regional security, including border conflicts, terrorism and militant Islam, its activities have expanded to cover economics and trade, transport and law enforcement.  Security and economic cooperation remain priorities. China and Russia are the dominant members.  Russia regards Central Asia as its sphere of influence but Chinese economic sway is growing.  At an informal level, the SCO is a diplomatic platform that helps address and contain potential friction.