Tehran, Iran, Sept. 2
Trend:
Iran exported over 12 million tons of tiles to other countries in the first four months of the current Iranian fiscal year (started March 21), according to figures by the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration.
More than 12 million tons of tiles worth $149 million were exported over four months, registering a 5.2 percent and 31 percent rise in value and weight, respectively, the figured indicated, Shata news agency reported.
Iraq and Pakistan were among the main markets for Iranian-made tile products during the period.
Iran’s exports of tiles to Pakistan and Iraq respectively witnessed a 41 percent and 9 percent growth over four months.
Iran’s tile industry enjoys cheap and abundant energy and raw materials combined with indigenous expertise rooted in history. However, due to the market recession caused by an ongoing stagnation in the construction sector as well as the tile and ceramic industry’s overproduction due to the unrestrained issuance of factory licenses during the 1990s, production and exports have followed a downtrend over the past few years and growth in domestic demand has been weak.
According to Iran’s industry ministry data, the output of Iran’s tile and ceramic industry increased by 16.9 percent during the last fiscal year, ended March 20.
The country produced 372.2 million square meters of tile and ceramic in the 12-month period.
Iran produced 31 million square meters of tiles and ceramics in the 12 calendar month, 8.8 percent less compared to the preceding month.
The country’s tiles and ceramics output amounted to 292.5 million square meters during the preceding fiscal year (ended March 20, 2017), 4.4 percent less year-on-year.
Iranian officials have earlier announced that the country’s tile and ceramic industry’s nominal production capacity stands at 700 million square meters per year.
The officials have also said that 133 manufacturing units are active in tile and ceramic production nationwide.