A total of 10.29 million tons of foreign goods transited through Iran by road and rail during the first 10 months of the current Iranian year (March 21, 2021-Jan. 20, 2022), registering a 75% rise compared with the similar period of last year, according to the caretaker of the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration.
“We expect the figure to rise to 12.4 million tons by the end of the [fiscal] year [March 20],” Alireza Moqaddesi was also quoted as saying by ISNA.
The official, who doubles as deputy economy minister, noted that the volume of transit reached its peak (over 13 million tons) in the fiscal 2014-15, adding that the figure dropped to around 7.5 million tons in fiscal 2019-20 and 2020-21.
“Iran’s geographical location at the confluence of east-west and north-south transportation corridors provides huge potential in rail and road freight transit,” he added.
Iran reportedly earns $150 and $50 for each ton of transit goods via road and rail respectively.
Iran reportedly earns $150 and $50 for each ton of transit goods via road and rail respectively
“The rise in transit came despite the fact that two of our main transport corridors were cut off. One was the road corridor through which consignments were transited from Turkey to Turkmenistan. These were goods coming from Europe to reach their destinations in member countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States and vice versa. Every year, more than 35,000 foreign trucks travelled on this route. Yet, after the outbreak of Covid-19, Turkmenistan closed its borders to us and we lost access to this corridor,” Mohammad Javad Hedayati, an official with Road Maintenance and Transportation Organization, said.
He added that transport to Afghanistan also came to a halt after the power transition in the neighboring country.
“After the Taliban took over, and the resulting restrictions it bought to Afghanistan’s banking operations, some countries are more cautious in trading with Afghan businesses and merchants. This has also affected the volume of transit through our country,” he said.
A total of 7.53 million tons of commodities were transited through Iran during the last Iranian year (March 2020-21), showing a 0.89% decline compared with the year before, according to the spokesperson of the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration.
Iran’s top 10 busiest transit borders in the last Iranian year (March 2020-21) were Shahid Rajaee Special Economic Zone in the southern Hormozgan Province with more than 3.3 million tons, Bazargan in West Azarbaijan Province with 703,000 tons, Bashmaq in Kurdestan Province with 687,000 tons, Sarakhs in Khorasan Razavi Province with 457,000 tons, Imam Khomeini Port checkpoint in Khuzestan Province with 447,000 tons, Bileh Savar in Ardabil Province with 337,000 tons, Jolfa in East Azarbaijan Province 312,000 tons, Razi in East Azarbaijan Province with 188,000 tons, Astara in Gilan Province with 156,000 tons and Bandar Lengeh in Hormozgan Province with 139,000 tons.
These 10 border crossings accounted for 89% of Iran’s overall transit volume (7.5 million tons) during the period under review.
With 12 wharfs, Shahid Rajaee is Iran’s biggest container port, accounting for 90% of the country’s total container throughput.
Over half of Iran’s commercial trading is carried out at Shahid Rajaee, located 23 kilometers west of the port city of Bandar Abbas, the capital of Hormozgan Province.
