A total of 159.56 million tons of cargo were loaded/unloaded at Iran’s 22 commercial ports during the first nine months of the current Iranian year (March 21-Dec. 21), registering a 6% rise compared with the similar period of last year, new data released by the Ports and Maritime Organization of Iran show.
Total unloading volume stood at 58.62 million tons (20.54 million tons of oil and 38.07 million tons of non-oil goods), which indicate a 6% year-on-year rise, IRNA reported.
The loading volume hit 100.94 million tons (57.67 million tons of oil and 43.26 million tons of non-oil goods), indicating a 6% increase compared with the corresponding period of last year.
Container throughput stood at 1.83 million TEUs to register a 8% rise.
The 22 ports under study include Iran’s southern ports of Abadan, Imam Khomeini, Bushehr, Khorramshahr, Genaveh, Bandar Lengeh, Chavibdeh, Arvandkenar, Charak and Dayyer located on the shores of the Persian Gulf, Shahid Rajaee, Shahid Bahonar, Shahid Haqqani, Qeshm and Tiab at the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz, Jask and Chabahar on the coasts of the Sea of Oman and the northern ports of Fereydounkenar, Noshahr, Astara, Amirabad and Anzali on the Caspian Sea shoreline.
According to PMO, a total of 205.34 million tons of goods were loaded and unloaded at Iran’s 22 commercial ports during the last Iranian year (March 2021-22), registering a 14% rise compared with the year before.
Around 73.25 million tons of oil products and 57.69 million tons of non-oil goods were loaded at the ports during the period, indicating a 19% and 7% growth.
A total of 24 million tons of oil products and 49.51 million tons of non-oil commodities were unloaded, registering a 6% and 14% increase compared with the previous year, the news portal of the Ministry of Roads and Urban development reported.
Container throughput stood at 2.21 million TEUs, showing a 12% YOY rise.
Shahid Rajaee, located in the southern Hormozgan Province, is Iran’s biggest commercial port. In fact, Shahid Rajaee Special Economic Zone accounts for the highest share of all goods exported from and imported to Iran.
The economic zone, which has a loading/unloading capacity of 100 million tons per year, accounts for over half of Iran's trade and about two-thirds of total freight transit through the country.
The lion’s share of Iran's containers is handled at Shahid Rajaee Port Complex. With 18 gantry cranes and 40 berths, it is the most advanced container port of Iran.
Launched in 1985, the port has expanded every year and is connected to 80 ports worldwide.
The significance of this port lies in its large capacity, including its location in the Persian Gulf, container terminal, fuel bunkering, access to 24 kilometers of railroads and round-the-clock truck transportation.
Imam Khomeini Port in the southern Khuzestan Province is the main port of entry for essential goods like wheat, corn and rice.
A large share of the country’s demand for livestock feed raw material and grains are imported through this southern port.
Overall, Imam Khomeini is Iran’s second busiest port after Shahid Rajaee. It boasts 40 wharfs, 140 kilometers of railroads within its premises and the latest loading and unloading facilities.
