TEHRAN -- Iran exported $444 million worth of carpets in the first ten months of current calendar year (started March 21, 2010).

The amount shows 14 percent increase in comparison to the same period previous year, IRNA reported.“Iran’s hand-woven carpet has many enthusiasts in the world and about 100 countries import Iran’s hand-woven carpet,” The director of Iran National Carpet Center Faisal Mardasi said at the third nationwide seminar of students of graduates of Persian carpet in the central city of Yazd.He went on to say that a total of 33 countries import more than one million dollars of Iran’s hand-woven carpet.‘The most important importers of Persian carpet include U.S., Germany, Italy, United Arab Emirates, Lebanon and Japan,’ the official noted.Mardasi had previously expressed hope that the value of handmade carpets exports will reach $500 million by the end of the current year.According to Mardasi Iran is the world’s top carpet exporter.The official had previously said that by offering competitive prices, compared to Indian, Chinese and Pakistani carpets, and adjusting the designs and colors of the carpets to global demand Iran could increase its share in international markets.