Neighbor and European markets Iranian rock applicant
Secretary of Iranian Stone Association: The Islamic Republic has always been one of the leading ornamental stone producers in the country, and neighboring and European markets continue to be among the most sought after products.
According to Iran's International Stone Exhibition, Ahmad Sharifi stated that the average annual export of Iranian stone is 10 million square meters and there are six thousand processing units in this sector. According to foreign trade statistics in the mining and mining sector, in the nine months of this year, four million five hundred and six thousand two hundred and thirty-seven tons of stones and related products were valued at more than two hundred and seventy-five million dollars. Also during this period, thirty-five thousand six hundred and forty-three tons of all kinds of stones and related products were imported, amounting to thirty-six million dollars, compared to fifty-seven and nine months respectively in weight and value, respectively. Thirty-seven percent recorded a decline.
Sharifi added: Today the production capacity of ornamental stone and facade has reached twenty-seven million tons and the production volume is more than 10 million tons; Iran is one of the leading countries in the production and variety of stone along with China and Italy.
According to statistics released by the Ministry of Industry, Mining and Commerce, exports of decorative stone and facade last year amounted to seven hundred and forty nine thousand tons. In 2016, the exported processed stone weighing three hundred and eighty thousand tons was worth one hundred and twenty-six million dollars and unprocessed stone was seven hundred and fifty thousand tons worth one hundred and forty-seven million dollars. But in 2015, the export of processed ornamental stone was worth two hundred and fifty-nine thousand eighty-seven million dollars; and five hundred and eight thousand tons of unprocessed stone were worth one hundred million dollars. The country's Stone Policy Council has announced the ultimate goal of exporting in this sector for a five-year period worth $ 2 billion.
According to the secretary of the Iranian Stone Association, there are more than 1,000 active mining mines, about 20 percent of which are exported. In its reports, the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Commerce announced the number of mines in operation last year in addition to the 3,000 mines, with two-and-a-half mines being equipped and deactivated. The amount of mineral extraction is about 300 million to 400 million tons annually, of which more than 60 percent is for building materials.
* IRNA
