Stationery production in Iran has increased to about 80 percent, but reliance on foreign raw materials remains a challenge. Mohsen Golestani, the head of the stationery union, announced that the share of domestic production in the market was about 80 percent this September. This figure, compared to last year's approximately 60 percent, indicates a positive transformation in the country's stationery industry.
Challenges in Supplying Raw Materials
Despite the increase in the share of domestic production, Mohammad Vosali, the director general of the stationery office at the Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade, pointed to the problems in securing raw materials. He stated that part of the requirements for producing pens and markers is imported from countries like India and China. This dependence on foreign sources, along with currency fluctuations, has significantly pressured production costs.
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Impact of Currency Fluctuations on Prices
Jamshidi, one of the stationery producers, said that producers are heavily dependent on securing pen tips, and although some materials like ink can be produced domestically, securing pen tips as a specialized component requires imports from limited countries. Mahmoudreza Sanatkhar, the president of the stationery producers' association, listed fluctuations in petrochemical prices, currency restrictions, and power outages as challenges facing producers this year.
The increase in raw material costs and currency fluctuations have also shortened the time for price changes of products. Jamshidi explained that in the past, producers typically adjusted prices once a year according to production costs; however, this period has now reduced to about six months and in some cases even to monthly adjustments.
Market Status of Stationery and Buyer Behavior
Two stationery sellers told ISNA that they currently have no issues in obtaining goods and that the products needed in the market are available. However, the constant changes in prices have created challenges for them. One of these sellers stated that "we have to check prices every day," as currency fluctuations can quickly affect the purchase price of goods.
This situation aligns with the comments of the president of the stationery producers' association. He previously mentioned the decrease in people's purchasing power as one of the market challenges and stated that producers are unable to pass on all increased costs to consumers. Jamshidi emphasized that if import restrictions continue in the future, producers will face serious problems.
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