The government does not help stone exports
In the face of difficult-to-export sanctions, a 20 percent tariff on stone exports has made it difficult for stone producers and mining activists.
According to the International Iranian Stone Exhibition, Ali Akbar Karimian, a member of the National Iranian Stone Association, said: "We are exporting in these difficult conditions, but the government is not helping us in this direction."
Referring to the export of containers by container through the UAE line, Karimian added: "Transportation costs have multiplied in the past year due to sanctions, so that the cost of transporting each 20-foot container from Bandar Abbas to Xiamen port from $ 200 to $ 240 last year." It has now reached $ 900.
He cited shipping in the Islamic Republic of Iran as the main reason for the high cost of transportation, as the company increased the cost of shipping each 20-foot container to $ 400- $ 450 in late 1998.
Karimian further pointed out the wear and tear of mining machinery and noted in this regard: Recently, the Mining House has approved the import of mining machinery with a lifespan of 5 years, however, the import of machinery is prohibited and if it can be imported from the UAE and Malaysia, it It is not possible with the skyrocketing prices.
According to him, due to the ban on the import of any large mining machinery from Europe and the United States, small machinery, including stone cutting and stone cutting machines, will be imported from China.
A member of the National Iranian Stone Association added: "Considering the rising price of the dollar, if we can export stone today, it would be economically viable, but the outbreak of Covid 19 disease has prevented the Chinese from coming to Iran for seven months."
Karimian believes that although the country's quarries are trying to prevent the mines from being exported, it must be acknowledged that a miner must export 20% of his production stone in order to be able to stand on his own two feet. This amount of stone does not harm the internal stonecutters.
Referring to unprofessional decisions on stone exports in different years, he explained: In 2010, when stone exports were banned and then 40 percent levies were imposed on it, Turkey copied the Iranian stone export ban circular and in various exhibitions among exhibitors He distributed them and asked them not to import stones from Iran due to high export duties.
This activist of the mining sector and stone exporter stated that the ban on stone export was lifted in 1390, but the Rouhani government approved a 10% tax on raw stone exports in 1397, to which 5% is added annually until it finally reaches 40%.
According to Karimian, the base price of a ton of marble is $ 70, which is $ 15 based on 20% tolls.
* Tasnim
