Iran sees Brazil, South Africa, China as new carpet export targets

TEHRAN, Aug. 22 (MNA) - Iran plans to expand carpet export markets, potentially to Brazil, South Africa, and China, the director for marketing at Iran’s National Carpet Center stated. Addressing a seminar in South Africa on Iran’s carpet on Monday, Mojtaba Feizollahi said that Iran is now exporting carpets to 51 countries. Qatar, Germany, Italy, and Japan were the main destinations for Iranian carpets during the first quarter of the current Iranian year, which began on March 20, the official added. Iran exported over $560 million worth of handmade carpets to 80 countries last year. According to the Customs Administration data, carpet exports last year rose by 0.8 percent in value, but decreased by 15.4 percent in weight, compared to the year before. Iran has developed plans to export as much as $1 billion worth of carpets in the current calendar year, the head of the National Carpet Center said on April 7. "Carpets are of great importance among the non-oil exports of the Islamic Republic," Baqer Aqa-Alikhani said, adding that boosting carpet exports to the UAE and China has been highlighted.