Tehran, Iran, March 9
Trend:
Iraqi dealers are rushing to buy cheap construction stone from Iran, and the move is threatening the country's future stone industry.
"The recession in Iran's domestic market alongside with sanctions has created a situation in which Iraqi dealers buy construction stone at a price less than $10, which would damage the market," said the secretary of Iran Stone Association Ahmad Sharifi, Tend reports citing IRNA.
He noted that the stone production units are supplying their products to Iraqi dealers due to lack of liquidity and working capital.
The official warned that the exported stones to Iraq have medium quality and it might cause the Iraqis to refuse from buying Iranian products.
"Previously, 60 to 65 percent of Iraq cement market was supplied by Iranian producers, but the low quality of some products has led to policy of reducing Iranian cement exports, ” he added.
He noted that Iran has exported seven million cubic meters of construction stone to Iraq. Iraqi dealers buy construction stone at low price in every region of Iran and they can even directly pay the stone factories and buy travertine and marble,
"Dealers buy stones from western provinces in Iran alongside with Isfahan,” he added.
The official expressed concern that the low quality of stones and abusive Iraqi dealers would damage Iran's stone industry and exports.
"The high quality stones are exported to Europe and developed countries," he said.