Tehran, Iran, May 26
By Kamyar Eghbalnejad - Trend:
The head of Tehran Guild Union for Lamb Meat Supply and Distribution hailed a recent decision by the government to ban export of livestock, noting that the move will be of great benefit to the country’s livestock market.
Iran’s livestock market and industry would benefit from the “right” decision by the Industries and Mines Ministry, Ali Asghar Maleki told the Trend news agency on May 26.
The move is aimed at addressing the growing demand in the domestic market, he added.
Red meat prices are expected to fall in the light of the ban, Maleki said, the restrictions would continue for a while.
The ban will not be lifted until the price in the domestic market returns to the balance line, he said.
Oman, Iraq and Persian Gulf littoral states were major destinations for Iran’s red meat before the ban.
On May 26, the Iranian deputy agriculture minister for livestock affairs said the government had banned livestock exports in a bid to balance the market.
Morteza Rezaei said the government has placed restrictions on exports of livestock due to a rise in livestock prices in the domestic market.
Iranian officials say that the country’s annual agricultural output stands at 120 million tons, worth at $80 million. The figure includes 82 million tons of crops, 20 million tons of horticultural products, 14 million tons of livestock, and over one million tons of fishery products.
Iran’s exports of livestock over the first 11 months of the last fiscal year (ending March 21) grew by 16.1 percent to hit 606,000 tons.
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