A total of 59,474 trucks have carried Iranian goods to their export destinations from Bazargan border checkpoint located in West Azarbaijan Province’s Maku County since the beginning of the current Iranian year on March 20, 2020, to register a 45% decline compared with the similar period of last year.
According to Jaber Akbarzadeh, a local official, the exports mainly included agricultural, petrochemical, stone and metal products, IRNA reported on Sunday.
The official added that a total of 67,659 trucks carried import goods into the country through Bazargan over the same period, registering a 52.16% year-on-year drop.
The imports included industrial machinery, paint, metal structures, different types of fabric and auto spare parts.
Out of Iran’s 22 border crossings, Bazargan in Maku, Razi in Khoy, Sarv in Urmia, Sanam Baqi in Poldasht and Tamarchin in Piranshahr, are located in West Azarbaijan Province.
Bazargan, a namesake capital of Bazargan District in Maku County, is the most important Iranian land border for importing from and exporting to Turkey.
To stem the spread of Covid-19, Turkey in March shut its border gates with neighboring countries, including Iran and Iraq.
The Bazargan border initially opened for trade in May, but restrictions were applied to incoming and outgoing truck traffic.
According to Spokesman of the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration Rouhollah Latifi, 60 Iranian trucks per day were allowed to transfer exports to Turkey from Iran as per new agreements from May 5.
Presently, according to Akbarzadeh, 424 trucks cross the border daily.
Trucks started arriving at the border gates after Turkish Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan announced in June that Turkey has reopened the Gurbulak border gate with Iran (known as Bazargan on the Iranian side of the border).
Trucks from Iran started arriving at the Gurbulak customs gate after the announcement and were to enter Turkey after the completion of procedures. Turkish trucks looking to enter Iran also started arriving at the border gate.
Strict measures such as imposing lockdowns and closing borders deeply affected the country's exports, particularly to Europe, its top export market, and the Middle East.
