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Iran looking to buy Ukrainian grains including soybean meal
2020 to date. All imported products, including feedstuff, have thus become that much more expensive.
Iran imports approximately 80% of feedstuff for poultry feed production. Poultry World concluded: “At this moment in time, the total production of day-old chicks is about 110 million per month, while before the Covid-19 pandemic, this was 120 million. In May of 2020, the acute shortage of poultry feed on the domestic market prompted hatcheries to bury day-old chicks alive because no one was buying.
“According to the Iran Feed Industry Association, the Covid-19 pandemic was not to blame. The US sanctions have blocked payments for 3 million tonnes of imported corn and soybean, leaving the domestic market short of feedstuff. Iran’s poultry farmers called the government to take urgent steps to protect the domestic poultry industry. According to Asad-Nejad, the current crisis could have a severe and long term impact on Iran’s poultry industry.”
Iran is interested in purchasing grains including corn, barley and soybean meal from Ukraine, APK Inform has reported.
The Association of Livestock Breeders of Ukraine backed by the Ukrainian Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture reportedly said Iran has reached out to secure deals.
Iran’s Ministry of Agriculture was cited as also saying that it was interested in purchasing Ukrainian red meats, poultry and chicken eggs.
“Ukrainian manufacturers interested in supplying the above products should contact the Iranian Embassy in Ukraine with an appropriate request,” it said. Weighing up a potential barter deal, Iran has said it is interested in supplying Ukraine with fertilisers including urea.
Iran’s interactions with former Soviet countries for consumer staples​ ​have hugely grown in recent years​ ​with US sanctions disrupting traditional trade channels with Europe and South America.
Russia and Kazakhstan have supplied Iran with grains in recent months.
9.1.9​ Retail sector news
Iran’s clothing sales fall “to almost zero” amid retailers’ virus woes
The head of Iran’s Association of Clothing Manufacturers has said clothing sales in the country have fallen “to almost zero” amid coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions, according to ILNA.
Tehan’s Grand Bazaar, stores across Iran and production workshops in the country have since the spring been forced to close for extended periods, decimating the domestic clothing manufacturing and retailing sectors, Abolghasem Agahhossein Shirazi was quoted as saying. Iran’s clothing industry remains traditionally based on in-store shopping unlike in the West where many consumers now prefer to shop online.
"Sales of clothing are down to almost zero compared to last year when the market was booming and Iranian production was stable. Unfortunately the coronavirus outbreak has dealt a fatal blow to clothing manufacturers," Shirazi said.
The latest severe decline of the Iranian rial (IRR) was yet to affect offered prices on clothing as an abundance of items was already sewn before it began, noted Shirazi. However, items produced after the new Persian year commenced on March 20 were seeing 30% to 40% price hikes due to the weaker rial driving up costs on imported raw materials, he added.
“As people are housebound, they have few or no requirements for new clothes and the industry now has a glut of items to move,” Shirazi concluded.
52​ IRAN Country Report November 2020 www.intellinews.com