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No black market for paper in Iran - official

Business Materials 1 October 2012 12:10 (UTC +04:00)

Azerbaijan, Baku, Oct.1/ Trend F.Milad/

No paper and cardboard is being hoarded by producers in Iran, as they don't have the opportunity to do so, the secretary of the Iranian paper and cardboard producers said.

"The dollar price is currently fluctuating and in such a situation it is natural for importers to wait for a stabilised market. That does not mean profiteering," Taher Shobeiri told ISNA.

Previously, a board member of the Paper Sellers Union told the ILNA news agency that the government's arbitrary prices create the conditions for a 'mafia' to take over the situation and profit from higher prices.

"The government sells paper imported from China for 535,000 rials," Ahmad Sharifian said. "This sets the level for future price of paper because it will be impossible for the price to be lower than that has just been paid."

Last year the paper market lost millions of dollars and saw numerous bankruptcies, the Paper Sellers' Union member said.

One reason for the paper market's problems is the rial's devaluation. Some use cheaper dollars to buy paper and then sell it at higher prices in Iran .

The Central Bank of Iran has set the official exchange rate at 12,260 rials to the dollar. That rate is available to importers of certain goods that are deemed essential.

Meanwhile, the exchange rate in Iran's free currency market is around 29,500 rials to the dollar.

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