In a recent revelation, the head of Iran’s union of canning industries, Masoud Bakhtiari, acknowledged the crisis in the country’s cheap food market on January 16. The stagnation in the market and the halt in canned fish production, a staple for the deprived and poor, have raised alarming concerns. Bakhtiari highlighted key points:
- A staggering 59% decrease in the weight of canned fish exports in 2023 compared to 2022.
- A significant 55% drop in its value during the same period.
Bakhtiari attributed these issues to the skyrocketing prices of domestically caught tuna, surpassing those of imported varieties. Consequently, the finished product’s price surged, leading to adverse effects:
- Iranian exporters lost the ability to export the product due to heightened production costs.
- Decreased purchasing power in the domestic market resulted in low demand for canned tuna.
This has resulted in a market standstill, production stoppages, or minimum capacity production for this essential product. The crisis extends beyond canned fish, encompassing other vital food items such as bread, oil, eggs, cheese, tomatoes, and potatoes, impacting the daily lives of the people and especially those in low-income sectors. The rising costs have forced individuals to reduce meals, posing a serious threat to social stability and raising concerns about the regime’s ability to address the mounting challenges.
