Hirad Marble News Updates: Here we will be evaluating the amount of marble export from Iran to the global market for the year 2021 and its share of global market. Based on the official reports, Iran has the capacity to produce 30 million tons of decorative marble and building stone; However, last year its production was only eight million tons on 2021 which is very lower than its production capacity. Meanwhile, Saif Amiri, the Director General of the Office of Mining Industries of the Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade, has announced the ministry’s goal to increase the value of marble export to the value of 1.5 billion dollars by 2025. The announcement of these figures is made while in the current situation, only 150 million dollars are exported, and this means a 10-fold increase in Iranian marble export in just three years!!! An event that experts believe is impossible without a clear strategy and goal setting and facilitation of the production and export of Iranian marbles.

The analysis of the previous statistics and figures shows that the decorative stone industry and marble in the country has the capacity to increase its export 10 times, as Amiri said, however, there are obstacles approaching the competitive marble market, which there is no other way but to cross them in order to participate in the global market. Despite the ministry concerns and targets, Iran’s construction stone and marble, export of marble from Iran have decreased by 31% in the last 7 months compared to the same period last year. Iran customs statistics show that in the 7 months of this year, about 644,378 tons of marble were exported, which shows a 31% decrease compared to the export of 934,000 tons in the same period last year. Reports says that Iranian marble in form of blocks without processing during the year 2021 was roughly about 150 million dollar and the amount of export of tiles and slabs and other processed marbles are about 100 million dollars, which give us the amount of 250 million dollar for the year 2021.  

But what are the barriers in development of export of Iranian marble to the global market? To answer that, we need to firstly go to the production sector, which is probably the key factor in controlling the export of marble from Iran. Based on the industry ministry of Iran for 2021, the total number of issued certificates for marble extraction from quarries are about 2200, however, right now, we have about 800 active and working marble quarries in Iran. This amount was 1100 by the end of 2016 and the trend shows a very sharp decrease in production and extraction of marble from Iran. Another key factor in production of marble is the machineries and equipment, right now, some of the quarries in Iran are flooded with unused old and difunctional machineries which are abandoned due to lack of budget for repair or lack of parts.  Iranian government has limited the import of new mining facilities like the saws, trucks, bulldozer and loaders.

Studies on the marble market in Iran and analysis of Iranian marble exporters show that the advantage of marble over its alternatives is the luxurious designs and variations which are very unique and special in global marble market.  Marbel and natural stone are a long-lasting material for construction, so you can maintain your professional designs in it. Iranian marble is well-known in the global market and some variations like Pietra Gray marble, Iranian Beige Travertine, Spider Marble and many other variations are available in many countries market. Iran’s marble export will reach 1.5 billion dollars whenever Iran take the position and market share from its competitors in the saturated global stone market and in the tight competition ahead. Branding and new ideas in this luxury industry can be a factor for Iran’s success in taking the market share of global marble. Otherwise, despite the fact that Iran has the capacity to produce stone worth 1.5 billion dollars, increasing production will be irrational and global market will not be taken.

Far from the numbers and amounts, quality and value-added amount of exported marble is crucial to take the best market share of export of marble to the global market. According to the official reports, the amount of 150 million dollars of marble export in 2021 is related to the export of raw marble or export of blocks and only 100 million dollars export of cut and processed marble. That means, we need to work more on the processing sector and increase the rate of our sale in processed marble which has more value-added and efficiency than export of raw blocks.

In Hirad marble we believe that export of marble will be a key valuable factor in development of marble industry in Iran and government should take practical measures to ease the procedures for marble exporters. Hirad marble is supplying any sort of marble from Iran in blocks, slabs and tiles as per client’s request. For more information and getting price idea of our suppliable marble, please kindly contact Hirad Marble.