Sistan-Baluchestan Province’s exports stood at 2.034 million tons worth $717.38 million in the first six months of the current fiscal year (March 21-Sept. 22), registering a 30% and 9% growth in weight and value respectively year-on-year, Mohammad Ali Khashi, a local official, said.
The exported goods were mainly shipped via Zahedan, Mirjaveh, Milak, Chabahar and free-trade zone customs terminals of the southeastern Iranian province as well as Pishin, Gamshad, Kouhak, Jaleq and Rimdan-e Bankul border markets, IRNA reported.
Cement, clinker, dates, gas, coriander seeds and other agricultural products were the main exported goods.
Pakistan, Afghanistan, Oman and the UAE were the main export destinations.
Imports to this province hit 995,545 tons worth $583.5 million during the same period, registering a 25% and 35% growth in weight and value respectively compared with last year’s corresponding period.
Rice, wheat, corn, barley, mango, sesame, spare parts, tangerine, banana and livestock were among the main imported goods.
The imports mainly came from Russia, Germany, Denmark, Pakistan, India, the UAE, Thailand and China.
According to Teymour Baqeri, another local official, Sistan-Baluchestan, which borders Afghanistan and Pakistan, is in close proximity with India and has special transit and economic potentials, making it a key spot for international trade and transportation.
“The southeastern province’s checkpoints have been mostly active and running during the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns, and this alone speaks of their significance in the region,” he added.
A total of 1.5 million tons of commodities were exported via road from Mikal and Mirjaveh border crossings to Afghanistan and Pakistan during the last Iranian year (March 2020-21), according to another local official, Ayyoub Kord.
“Milak and Mirjaveh checkpoints accounted for 813,762 tons and 688,195 tons of the overall sum respectively,” he was quoted as saying by News.mrud.ir.
