Page 52 - IRANRptMar21

from the nuclear deal in May 2018 and imposed the sanctions, trade volumes have shrunk. Iran is on track to post a Turkey trade deficit this year for the first time since 2016, Turkish Ministry of Trade figures show. Total bilateral; trade declined 38% from 2016 to 2019.
9.1.11 ​Metallurgy & mining sector news
Armenia places temporary ban on Iranian cement citing dumping
Export duty puts brake on Iran’s shipments of steel ingots
Iran exports 60,000 tonnes of aluminium in first seven Persian month
Armenia has placed a temporary ban on cement from “neighbouring countries” following dumping practices recorded on its small market, ARKA reported on January 27.​ Market data shows the move is clearly aimed at Iranian cement supplies.
The Armenian cement industry has suffered since Iran entered a temporary two-year preferential trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU). Launched in October 2019, it reduced tariffs on many Iranian products exported to the five-member, Moscow-led trade bloc, including cement and other building materials.
“The plan is for this decision to ensure, through marketing mechanisms, the further development of the Armenian cement industry,” the Armenian government said in a statement.
Iranian cement exports have grown steadily in recent years. Several suppliers have introduced their products to Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Russia. Their production costs in Iran are significantly lower than those of rival producers in regional countries.
Armenia previously imposed a duty on cement imports amounting to Armenian dram (AMD) 14,000 ($28.10) per tonne. The duty was meant to last for a limited period only in 2020, but it ​was extended​ due to the economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.
A 25% export duty appears to be hindering and reducing Iran’s shipments of steel ingots.
Such exports fell 16% y/y to 3.19mn tonnes during the first seven months of the current Iranian calendar year (March 20-October 21), according to the Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO).
Iran introduced a duty on exports of raw minerals, most particularly iron ore, in September last year. The stated aim was to decrease the export of unprocessed minerals in order to help create more value-added and meet requirements of domestic producers needing the raw materials. Ten years ago, Iran exported more than 20mn tonnes of unprocessed iron ore. That figure declined to six million tonnes last year.
IMIDRO said Iran’s annual steel ingot production will increase to 3.2mn tonnes by the end of the current Iranian calendar year according to its latest forecasting (ends March 20, 2021).
Iran exported over 60,000 tonnes of aluminium in the first seven months of the 2020/2021 Persian calendar year (March 20 to October 21), Mehr News Agency reported on December 1.
Exports increased partly given the weak standing of the Iranian rial (IRR), severely depleted by the impact of US sanctions. Regional countries have snapped up cheaper shipments for construction and other purposes.
During the seven-month period, the export value of Iranian aluminium amounted to $101.1mn, Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA) said. Aluminium exports increased by 84% and 56% in tonnage and value, respectively, on a year on year basis.
52​ IRAN Country Report March 2021 www.intellinews.com