Our new magazine STONETECH was distributed in the 10th StoneExpo fair in Iran’s travertine production center Mahallat…
We went to Mahallat city of Iran, which can be considered as a global travertine production center and an important market in natural stone and marble processing in Iran. The most important feature of Mahallat and the neighboring settlement center Nimvar is the quarrying activities being carried out on all the hills in the city. Google search engine mentions of Mahallat as the center of flower production and Nimvar as the central city in travertine production in Iran.There are smaller-scale factories in Mahallat and Nimvar when compared to Isfahan and Tehran. However, it is an important city since it has the significant part of the traverten reserves in Iran. The StoneExpo Fair of Mahallat was organized for the 10th time this year.
StoneExpo has been gradually growing thanks to the effords of the fair organizers. The Hall “B” was opened this year in addition to the Hall “A” , which was opened two years ago. The roof of the Hall B was being set up on the first day of the fair. The top of the Hall B was completely closed on the last day. Mohammad Halajian, one of the organizers of the fair, claimed that the fair will continue growing together with the construction of the Hall C in two years. Mohammad Halajian has very friendly relations with the participants coming outside of Iran. He hosts international participants in the main building of the fair hall and serves them lunch everyday.
All the International visitors of the fair were picked up from a thermal hotel and delivered again in the evenings by shuttle buses everyday. We were taken to the airport in Tahran by private taxis as well. To be honest, we were highly satisfied by this special care and attention of the fair organization. Iranian participants were very hospitable to foreign participants of the fair. Hospitality and treat is in the nature of Iranians.
What we saw between Tahran and Mahallat…
First of all, I must mention that Iran has an incredibly rich variety in terms of traverten and onyx varieties! It is also a geography that is rich in granite deposits, white and gray marble varieties, beige and other color marble reserves. The greatest misfortune of Iran, despite its abundant natural stone reserves, is the embargo, which has been imposed on natural stone trade for many years.
The most important assurance of the industry after the export possibilities that had been narrowed down under the embargo pressure, is the growing demand for natural stone use in the construction of buildings in Iranian cities.
This interest for natural stone can be observed especially in the cities such as Tehran, Isfahan and Qum. The use of productive natural stone reserves of Iran in the constructions in the domestic market has been keeping the country’s natural stone sector dynamic and going. With the use of these export quality stones of Iran in local buildings, a visual richness occur. In Iran, the consumption of natural stone in the local market has become the key measure to maintain the natural stone sector in the country.
Great market for machinery and consumable products!
Turkish natural stone processing machinery and consumable products producer companies show great interest in Iran natural stone market. Iran natural stone market offers huge opportunities for Turkish machinery producers.
There is potential in almost all cities of Iran. Iran is one of the leading competitor of Turkey in terms of marble, travertine, onyx and granite production. Without embargo Iran would be a very important competitor to Turkey!
What we need to do is; to give support to our neighbour in presenting the natural stone varieties that Iran does not have in the world market! In a sense, doing something similar to what Italy did in order to market Turkish natural stones and marbles to the world! Because there is diverse varieties of natural stones such as onyx, light, red and yellow travertine, white, grey, beige and colored marbles in Iran. Moreover, there are alternatives such as opening a quarry in partnership with Iranian citizens in Iran!
Let’s look at the market from the eyes of machinery producer companies!
There are three important natural stone production centers in Iran, which are Tahran, Isfahan and Mahallat. It is stated that there are many marble factories in and around Tebriz. The distribution of marble reserves and production centers in Iran is similar to those in Turkey.
Due to the embargo conditions, Iranian banks can not integrate with the world. However, there has been a significant improvement in relations between Turkey and Iran recently. Especially after the visit of President Erdogan, the use of local currencies in trade between Iran and Turkey could give a great boost to trade!
In the meantime, as we have seen in the factories in Mahallat, Nimvar and Tahran, it is necessary to renew the old natural stone processing technology used in the natural stone industry in Iran. However, due to the situation of Iran banks, renewing these technologies can not be possible.
Italian producers, who are in the position of technology base in the natural stone sector, are very interested in Iran. Both the producers of quarry and factory machines are in competition with each other. Unfortunately, there are very few Turkish companies on the market. It is the result of their own special efforts.Italy gives support to Italian machinery producers. Can’t the Turkish state provide such support to its producers? This is actually what needs to be done! Such situations should be the benchmark while medium and small sized enterprises are supported and interest free loans are given through KOSGEB. Loans should be given to the works that will contribute to export!
There are Italian machinery manufacturers in three sectoral fairs held in Tehran, Isfahan and Mahallat. However, there are only a few Turkish companies in these fairs. In my opinion, in this case, Turkish Natural Stone Machinery and Technology Producers Association should be more active!
In these kind of exhibitions, company representatives should give detailed informations about their machines by making emphasis on robustness and reliability of the machines. In Turkey, we have to act as soon as possible in terms of promotion in the international market as well as in the domestic market, especially in the Middle East.
About the Fair !..
As we stated above, the organizers of the fair are very friendly and concerned. Likewise, the efforts of the fair organization representatives to ensure the satisfaction of the foreign participants where highly remarkable. This fair has been growing rapidly. As Mohammad Halajian explained, the machinery exhibition hall will be transformed into an indoors hall. It is at the planning phase with an allocated budget.
In terms of visitors, the fair was mainly aimed at the domestic market, the Middle East, the countries in the north of Iran, India and China. However, there were few Chinese visitors in the exhibition area. There where several Indian buyers in the outdoors block exhibition field. The blocks over there were marked on the first day. There was high interest for onyx and grey marble blocks. We also observed that business negotiations were held at the stands of Iranian companies located in Hall A. The fair was highly active in terms of the domestic market.
The Hall B was reserved for foreign participants. The booth of Turkish Stone World Magazine was in the same hall as well. Apart from Turkish Stone World, Gönmaksan, IZFAS MARBLE Fair, Bursa Block Fair, DKY Machinery, Özyaşar Wire joined the festival from Turkey. Hidromek, MTB Makina, Haz Abrasive, Om Engineering and Merit Abrasive companies, which have representatives in Iran, exhibited their products in the fair.
The latest issue of Turkish Stone World and our new magazine STONETECH were distributed to participants and visitors of the fair…
We distributed Verona Marmomacc issue of Turkish Stone World Magazine along with our new magazine STONETECH in Mahallat. In addition, we can easily say that our STONETECH magazine, which is distributed to everyone who visits our stand, will be a brand such as Turkish Stone World in the coming years.
Text/Analyse: Ersin BOZKURT
+90 532 585 51 95
+90 532 585 51 95