Baku, Azerbaijan, May 23
By Elnur Baghishov – Trend:
Iran Tanners Association holds consultations on the import of leather from neighboring countries with appropriate organizations, Abbas Torkaman, chairman of Iran Tanners Association, told ISNA, Trend reports.
According to him, the association is consulting with Iran Veterinary Organization.
Torkaman added that the final decision on the import of leather from neighboring countries has not yet been made. "The strict rules of Iran Veterinary Organization on importing leather to Iran have led to Azerbaijan and Iraq exporting leather to other countries," he said.
Torkaman went on to say that, considering the existing problems with bank exchanges caused by the sanctions, Iran Tanners Association has asked Iran's Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade and Iran Veterinary Organization for permission to import leather from neighboring countries.
According to Torkaman, the lack of profitability in animal husbandry for entrepreneurs has created problems in this field in Iran. In his words, the supply of raw materials in the leather industry will help eliminate the problem of unemployment.
"Last year, 200 cows and 1,000 sheep were slaughtered in the slaughterhouses. At present, these figures have dropped significantly. This has led to a threefold increase in the prices of raw materials and leather," he said.
Torkaman added that the price of raw leather made up 50,000 rials ($1.19 according to official exchange rate and $0.35 in black market) last year (started on March 21, 2018), and that it currently makes up 150,000 rials ($3.5 according to official exchange rate and $1.07 in black market).