Azerbaijan, Baku, September 4 /Trend, N. Umid
Iranian Minister of Industry, Mining and Trade, Mohammadreza Nematzadeh has confirmed that 21 ships carrying staple goods are waiting at Iran ports due to customs clearance problems linked to non-allocation of the required foreign currency, Tasnim news agency reported.
Nematzadeh said that some 40 ships carrying staple goods were waiting at the ports of which some 19 have offloaded their goods during the past two weeks.
He made the remarks at the Parliament's Industries and Mines Committee.
In August Tasnim reported that the Central Bank hasn't allocated foreign currency at the rate of 12,260 rials per USD for staple goods which have been imported by the private sector, despite the government's decision.
According to the report, the foreign currency at a rate of 12,260 is just allocated to state importers of staple goods.
Iran's private sector also has problems receiving foreign currency at the official rate of 24,800 rials per dollar, the report said. Iran's Central Bank has allocated US dollars at the official rate of 24,800 rials per USD for the private sector's staple good importers in a very limited amount during the past two months.
During the past month, staple goods importers have faced problems due to repealing the official USD rate of 12, 260 rials by the Iranian administration.
Early in July Iranian media outlets reported that some 80 ships carrying wheat, press cake and staple goods are waiting for customs clearance due to foreign currency problems.
Money for wheat shipments had been paid at the previously official rate of USD (12,260 rials for each USD) and declared that additional money should be paid based on the difference between the old and new rates for shipment clearance.
On August 18, Iranian president Hassan Rouhani's newly formed cabinet of ministers made a decision regarding clearing the staple goods that have been frozen at the country's customs.
The cabinet ministers commissioned the Central Bank and the concerned ministries to adopt the necessary measures for unloading the cargo ships and customs clearance of the dire necessities for the population.