The Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration has published a new report on imported essential goods during the first nine months of the current Iranian year (March 21-Dec. 21, 2019).
According to the report, corn topped the list of imported essential goods in terms of value, as the country imported 5.92 million tons of the staple worth $1.48 billion during the period to register a 4.4% decline in tonnage but a 2.4% growth in value compared with last year’s corresponding period, Mehr News Agency reported.
Next on the list in terms of value were pharmaceuticals and medical equipment, as 13,900 tons worth $1.15 billion were imported, indicating a 17.3% increase in tonnage but a 4.35% decrease in value year-on-year.
Rice imports amounted to 1.04 million tons worth $1.1 billion, up by 1.18% and 4.27% in tonnage and value respectively YOY.
Next on the import list was 1.12 million tons of edible oils worth $874.5 million to witness a 37.15% and 31% rise in tonnage and value respectively YOY.
Edible oils were followed by oilseeds, the import of which stood at 1.26 million tons worth $654.6 million, down by 41.34% and 40.02% respectively YOY.
Barley imports posted growth both in tonnage and value YOY by 32.54% and 53% respectively to reach 2.29 million tons worth $589.2 million.
Iran imported 1.23 million tons of soybean meal worth $545.8 million during the period under review to register a 62.85% and 60.83% rise in tonnage and value respectively YOY.
Imports of heavy-duty tires totaled 148,800 tons worth $484.5 million, up 323.09% and 311.75% in tonnage and value respectively YOY.
Experiencing a staggering rise in both tonnage and value, raw sugar imports reached 1.36 million tons worth $482.4 million, jumping by 788.65% and 688.56% in tonnage and value respectively YOY.
Red meat imports stood at 108,000 tons worth $441.5 million, up by 27.67% and 22.74% in tonnage and value respectively YOY.
All in all, more than 16.5 million tons of essential goods, including corn, rice, oilseeds, vegetable oil, pharmaceuticals, barley, red meat, soybean meal, sugar, fertilizer and chicken, were imported into the country during the nine-month period, indicating a 19% rise in weight and 15% increase in value year-on-year.
According to Director General of Khuzestan Ports and Maritime Organization Adel Deris, 75-80% of Iran's essential goods are imported through Imam Khomeini Port.
A total of 22.27 million tons of essential goods were loaded and unloaded at southern Khuzestan Province’s Imam Khomeini Port during the nine months to Dec. 21.
Some 14 million tons out of the total sum were unloaded and the remaining 8 million tons were loaded.
According to the Ports and Maritime Organization of Iran, Imam Khomeini Port was the second busiest port during the nine-month period after Shahid Rajaee, as it handled over 33.37 million tons of commodities. The figure shows a 12.12% increase YOY.
Non-oil goods accounted for more than 22.13 million tons and oil products for over 11.24 million tons of the total throughput in Imam Khomeini Port, registering a 17.57% and 2.74% growth respectively YOY.
Imam Khomeini Port is located at the terminus of the trans-Iranian railroad linking the Persian Gulf with Tehran and on to the Caspian Sea. It is a transshipment point for containers, bulk and general cargo, with exclusive access to the facilities held by the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines.
The port has seven terminals with 40 berths of about 6,500-meter frontage.
