Azerbaijan, Baku, Aug.16/ Trend F.Karimov/
Exports of processed meat products have sharply decreased due to high meat price in the country, the Fars News Agency quoted managing director of Iranian processed meat producers union Mohammad Mousavi as saying.
Domestic production of processed meat products fell to 80,000 tons in the first four months of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21-July 22), he added.
Annual production of processed meat products has been about 450,000 tons annually in the past. So, the 4-month output in the current year is not favorable at all, he noted.
High prices of meat and raw materials are among the reasons of the decrease in processed meat production, he explained.
In July, the Mehr News Agency quoted Iran's veterinary organization deputy director Mohsen Meshkat as saying that Iran is finalizing a deal with New Zealand to import meat from that country.
New Zealand is one of the best producers of meat in the world, he said, adding that Iran is currently importing meat from Brazil, Australia, India.
The organization is also planning to sign deals with China and Pakistan for importing meat processed products, he said, adding that Iran is currently exporting meat to South Korea.
Meanwhile, in January, IRNA quoted Saeid Soltani-Sarvestani, the managing director of the national union of animal farmers, as saying that Iran is near to attain self-sufficiency in producing red meat as just 10 percent of the domestic need is currently imported.
Plans are underway to increase red meat production and reduce market prices, he added.
Currently, around 970,000 tons of red meat is produced in the country, he said, adding that the figure is projected to be boosted by 705,000 tons over the course of five years.
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