Tehran, Iran, August 30
Trend:
Iran produced over 98,000 tons of red meat during the first three months of the current Iranian year (March 21-June 21).
The production registered an 8-percent decrease compared to the same period last year, the Statistical Center of Iran said.
Beef and veal had the lion’s share in the country’s red meat output during the period with over 55,000 tons, followed by lamb and mutton with 34,000 tons, goat meat with 6,500 tons and meat from other livestock reached 13,000 tons.
According to the Association of Cattle Breeders, red meat consumption in Iran is about 880,000 tons per year.
Currently, 10 percent of domestic demand for red meat is met by imports, which annually averages at 80,000-100,000 tons.
Recently, the director general of the Economic Affairs and Commercial Policies Office with the Ministry of Industries, Mining and Trade said the government was importing red meat in a bid to help balance the demand for it in the market.
The government is importing, storing and distributing 120 tons of lamb and mutton on a daily basis to control high prices in the market, Mohammad Reza Kalami Bajestan said on July 21.
Iranian officials say that annual agricultural output stands at 120 million tons, valued at $80 million.
The figure includes 82 million tons of crops, 20 million tons of horticultural products, 14 million tons of livestock, and over one million tons of fishery products.
