More than 1.92 million tons of non-oil commodities worth $627.15 million have been exported from the southern Khorramshahr customs office since the beginning of the current Iranian year on March 20, 2020, showing a 255% rise in value compared with the similar period of last year, a local official said on Sunday.
“Fruit and vegetable, minerals, dairy products, seeds, seafood, pulses, asbestos, construction material, plastic products and organic and non-organic chemicals were the main goods exported during the period from the port to Iraq, Kuwait, the UAE, Turkey, India, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan Republic,” Director General of Khorramshahr Port and Maritime Office Ali Soleimani was quoted as saying by IRNA.
The official added that during the same period, 84,655 tons of products worth $185 million were imported via this southern port, indicating a YOY increase of 24% and 1% respectively.
The imported products mainly included raw material, industrial machinery, electrical equipment, natural rubber and textiles.
“Khorramshahr customs’ general revenues over the period under review has increased by 22% to reach 2.94 trillion rials [$10 million],” Soleimani said.
A total of 2.46 million tons of commodities were loaded in Khorramshahr Port during the first 10 months of the current Iranian year (March 20, 2020-Jan. 19), showing a 16% rise compared with the similar period of last year, according to the director general of Khorramshahr Port and Maritime Office.
“These products were mainly exported to the littoral states of Persian Gulf,” Nourollah As’adi has been quoted as saying by IRNA.
Container loading stood at 6,422 TEUs over the same 10 months, registering a 56% year-on-year rise.
Khorramshahr Port is situated to the northwest of Persian Gulf, southwest of Iran and southeast of Iraq (Shalamcheh land border) at the confluence of Arvand and Karoun rivers in Khuzestan Province.
Khorramshahr is an inland port city located approximately 10 kilometers north of Abadan.
Arvand Free Trade Zone located to the northwest of Persian Gulf has an area of 37,400 hectares encompassing the cities of Khorramshahr, Abadan and Minoushahr in Khuzestan Province.
Located 3 meters above sea level and bordering Iraq, the free trade zone began its transformation from a rural to industrial and commercial region in 2004. Cabinet members officially demarcated the area by 2005.
Nearly 3,800 hectares are designated for warehousing and shipping. The port boasts the deep waters of Bahmanshir, Karun and Arvand rivers. Bordering Iraq and Kuwait, the free zone has excellent road, rail and air transit, which boosts its connectivity.
“A total of $50 million worth of foreign investments have been attracted by Arvand Free Trade Zone since the current Iranian year began on March 20,” Mousavi said recently.
“This year’s foreign investment in Arvand Free Zone shows a significant increase in comparison to 2 million dollars of the same period last year.”
The free zone is of special significance as it is in the neighborhood of Iraq and Kuwait.
Bordering Arvand River and beyond that southern Iraq, the FTZ has a unique proposition on offer. It has direct access to the Iraqi market. Among all of Iran’s neighboring countries, Iraq stands as the largest market for Iranian products.
