A total of 329,000 tons of commodities worth $183 million were exported from Mehran border crossing in the western Ilam Province during the first half of the current Iranian year (March 20-Sept. 21).
“The exports come, as Mehran was closed down for three whole months due to the outbreak of Covid-19. Two months after the outbreak, the border was opened only for two days per week,” Rouhollah Gholami, director general of Ilam Customs Administration, was quoted as saying by the news portal of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture.
The official noted that 48,169 tons of agricultural products worth $24.78 million were exported to Iraq from the Mehran checkpoint during the six-month period.
“Other main exported products were foodstuff, plastic and glass products, automotive spare parts, steel, tiles, ceramics and construction material,” he added.
According to Gholami, an average of 300 trucks carrying Iran's export goods cross Mehran border to Iraq daily.
Last year (March 2019-20), he said, exports from Mehran checkpoint stood at $1.18 billion.
Iraq is Iran's biggest export destination among its neighbors.
Three border crossings with Iraq, namely Mehran as well as Chazzabeh and Shalamcheh in the southern Khuzestan Province, reopened for exports during all weekdays as of Sept. 12, IRNA reported.
Earlier, amid the spread of the new coronavirus, customs procedures were carried out only on Sundays and Wednesdays at most border terminals with Iraq, except for Khosravi in western Kermanshah Province, which was open to trade during all weekdays, according to Rouhollah Latifi, the spokesperson of the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration.
Chazzabeh was the last of seven official border crossings between the two countries that reopened after about six months, following the outbreak of coronavirus.
“At the beginning of its reopening in late July, 30 trucks were allowed to cross the border, but at present 170 trucks carry mainly vegetables and construction materials to the neighboring country via Chazzabeh daily,” Latifi said.
Ali Mousavi, an official with Arvand Free Trade Zone, said 300 trucks of Iran’s private sector carry fruit and vegetables, cucurbits, food, construction materials, minerals and steel products daily to Iraq through Shalamcheh into the neighboring country.
Iraq closed its international borders and provincial boundaries in March, except for the delivery of essential goods such as food, as it sought to curb the spread of coronavirus.
Iran also exports to Iraq through border crossings with the Kurdish region of the neighboring country, namely Bashmaq, Parvizkhan and Tamarchin, which have been open all along the coronavirus pandemic.
Amid restrictions imposed by the Iraqi government on cross-border trade due to the spread of the new coronavirus, Iran directed the bulk of its exports to the neighboring country through borders with the Iraqi Kurdistan.
According to the IRICA spokesman, 8.1 million tons of goods worth $3.8 billion were exported from Iran to Iraq through the Iraqi Kurdistan Region during the last fiscal year that ended on March 19, 2020.
“Exports account for 42% of Iran’s total exports to Iraq in terms of value and for over 31% in terms of tonnage during the period under review,” Latifi concluded.
