Investigating Import Cost Stability, Diversification and Specialization in Production, Export and Import of Meats in Iran

In this study diversification and specialization in production, export and import of meats in Iran were investigated applying Herfindal index to time series of 1961to 2004. Moreover, the cost stability of import was examined using the import cost function. The results exhibit the specialization for red meat from 1961to 1968 and for chicken from 1982 to 2004. During the period of study, meat production had gradual changes towards producing more chicken meat. Iran had specialization in meat export for most of the period however, in the recent years diversification in export is created. For the country, the diversification (1961-1964 and 1973-1986) and specialization (1965 to 1972 and 1987-2004) of import were existed for some periods. The overall results demonstrated that the import cost fluctuation had been related to quantity of import, and not import price.