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HomeIran News NowIran Economy NewsSlump in domestic production costs Iran billions in imports

Slump in domestic production costs Iran billions in imports

NCRI – Iran’s economy is lurching towards paralysis as plunging domestic production is forcing the regime to import billions of dollars worth of essential goods.

In the first half of the Iranian year, rice imports mainly from India UAE and Turkey increased by 117 per cent to a massive 1.289 billion dollars.

The pistachio harvest in Yazd province has also fallen by up to 40 per cent to 47,725 tons due to lack of water and excess heat, causing a a drastic drop in income for farmers.

There has also been a 40 per cent drop in the production of leather shoes and bags, a workers’ union spokesman in Isfahan reported.

Akbar Zahedi told the state-run ILNA news agency said lack of raw materials, dilapidated machinery and the high cost of energy and transport were to blame for the slump.

Producers are being forced to pre-sell products before they are made to remain in operation, while other factories have closed down entirely.

He added: “Last year the cost of leather used for producing a pair of shoes was 9,000 Tomans. But this year, this cost has increased to 27,000 Tomans. Therefore the amount of production decreased.”

This official also claimed they are facing mounting problems in exporting leather. Last year, leather from Tabriz was exported to countries including Ukraine, Nakhjawan, Azerbaijan, and leather from Mashhad to Afghanistan – this year most exports had halted.