TEHRAN – Following a series of talks and consultations, Iran lifted ban on exporting tar to other countries.

Hamid Ebrahimi-Asl, a member of the trade union for producers and exporters of mineral products in Iran, said here on Sunday that a number of problems have caused a decrease in the export rate of this chemical substance during the first months of the current Iranian calendar year (started March 21).

He further pointed to a considerable increase in the domestic demand for tar during the first six months of the current year and said “Some 300 thousand tons of tar have been exported during the first half of the year; nevertheless, the export rate of this product has been about 500 thousand tons during a similar period of time last year.”

Ebrahimi-Asl also said that every ton of tar is sold for $250 in the global markets, and concluded that the tar export ban has consequently inflicted $50 million damage on Iran economy during three months.

Referring to the $150 difference between the domestic and global price of tar, he said that the lower price of the domestic tar products has increased tar smuggling in the country.

In conclusion, Ebrahimi-Asl referred to the fact that presently the tar price is stabilized in Iran, but noted that this will damage the domestic industry because the tar price should be estimated in accordance with the global prices of this chemical substance.