(Minews) - Deputy head of Iran's Stone Association said on Monday that Iran after China and India is the third producer of decorative and construction stones, but, it has 12th rank among stone exporters.
Malik Rahmati told reporters that production of decorative and construction stones in Iran during 3 Iranian years of 1391 to 1393 was 15 million tons on average and the export was four to five percent of production in the same period.
Rahmati said that China import 85 percent of Iran's unprocessed stone and then Italy and Turkey are among importers.
He said that Iraq with 36 percent share in importing Iranian stones is top customer of Iran decorative processed stones and then Turkey, Azerbaijan Republic and Turkmenistan stood respectively.
Europe continent imported six percent of Iran's decorative processed stone last year.
He said that Iran's decorative and construction stones reserves are assessed at eight billion tones, which 2.3 billion tons are decisive reserves and the rest possible.
Among 7,800 mines (either active or non-active) in Iran the number of decorative stone mines is 1,930 mines, he said.
Rahmati said that importing decorative stones damage domestic production and added that last year totally 20 million tons of decorative stones were imported.
He said that Italy, Turkey and China are the exporters of stone to Iran.
The 7th International Exhibition of decorative stones, mines, machinery and related equipment is to be held in Tehran on July 20 to 23, by participation of 130 domestic and foreign companies.
