Iran’s exports of hand-woven carpets have picked up again after years of slump as authorities say that an easing of exports restrictions is helping the country regain its dominant position in the international markets.
Head of Iran’s National Center for Innovative Industries and Carpet said on Wednesday that exports of hand-woven carpets from the country had reached some $13 million in the four months to July 21, up 12% from the same period last year.
Mohammad Reza Zare said that the production of hand-woven carpets in Iran had also increased by 6% year on year in April-July to reach just over 1 million square meters.
Zare said hand-woven carpet production in Iran has experienced a steady rise in the past three years, adding that exports is also increasing thanks to recent decisions by the government to remove or ease restrictions on the return of hard currency proceeds by exporters.
He said the government had also dismantled a ban on sending hand-woven carpets to other countries by post.
The official said lowering tariffs on imports of raw silk has also led to increased weaving and exports of silk carpets in Iran.
Iran was once a dominant supplier of hand-woven carpets in the world with official government records showing that exports had reached up to $1 billion in the 1990s and remained at the same level until the early years of 2010s.
Exports dropped to historic lows in recent years amid sanctions imposed by the US and government laws requiring all exporters to return their hard currency proceeds to the country.