The vice chairman of the Iranian Hand-woven Carpet Producers Association has sounded the alarm in regards to the present state of Iran’s carpet business, which is quickly declining amid the recession.
Speaking on behalf of the union, Hamed Chamran Lok revealed that home and worldwide gross sales of hand-woven rugs proceed to say no.
“In the present state of affairs, exports of hand-woven rugs are virtually zero,” mentioned Chamran Lok, including that the imposition of financial institution sanctions has additional worsened the state of affairs.
Last 12 months, exports of one in all Iran’s most well-known merchandise reached their lowest stage in 24 years, dropping by 24% in a single 12 months alone.
The decline in Iran’s hand-woven carpet exports is in stark distinction to its historic efficiency. In 1994, Persian rugs introduced the nation greater than $2 billion in income. However, by 2019, that quantity had plummeted to simply $69 million. The state of affairs worsened additional within the second quarter of 2020, with export earnings of simply $2 million.
Many elements contributed to the numerous decline, together with challenges in world logistics chains and rising product prices. International sanctions associated to Tehran’s nuclear program have additionally hit native industries, together with the hand-knotted carpet sector.
The decline in exports of hand-woven carpets goes past the financial impression, and can also be having severe social penalties. Carpets have lengthy been the idea of Iran’s rural economic system, offering vital employment alternatives for hundreds of thousands of households.
But because the business declines, statistics from the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Trade reveal that round two million weavers have been pressured emigrate to cities and neighboring nations seeking various livelihoods.