Iran’s commercial ports handled 105.43 million tons of goods during the first six months of the current Iranian year (March 21-Sept. 22), registering a 6% rise compared with the similar period of last year.
A total of 13.4 million tons of oil products were unloaded during the period under review to record a 6% year-on-year rise, the news portal of the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development reported citing data released by Ports and Maritime Organization of Iran.
The unloading of non-oil products stood at 25.92 million tons, marking an 11% YOY rise.
Unloading of oil and non-oil products combined hit 39.33 million tons, registering a 9% YOY rise.
Loading of oil products stood at 39.16 million tons, non-oil products at 26.96 million tons and oil and non-oil products combined at 66.1 million tons over the period. PMO said the latter figure registered a 4% YOY rise, without reporting changes in the first two.
The aggregate loading and unloading of oil products stood at 52.56 million tons and that of non-oil products 52.87 million tons in the six-month period.
A total of 105.43 million tons of oil and non-oil products were loaded and unloaded during March 21-Sept. 22, indicating a 10% growth in oil products, 2% growth in non-oil products and a 6% increase in loading and unloading of oil and non-oil products combined year-on-year.
Loading and unloading of containers stood at 1.23 TEU in H1, indicating an 11% YOY rise.
The 22 ports under study include Iran’s southern ports of Abadan, Imam Khomeini, Bushehr, Khorramshahr, Genaveh, Bandar Lengeh, Chavibdeh, Arvandkenar, Charak and Dayyer located on the shores of the Persian Gulf, Shahid Rajaee, Shahid Bahonar, Shahid Haqqani, Qeshm and Tiab at the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz, Jask and Chabahar on the coasts of the Sea of Oman and the northern ports of Fereydounkenar, Noshahr, Astara, Amirabad and Anzali on the Caspian Sea shoreline.
Iran’s Biggest Commercial Port
Shahid Rajaee, located in the southern Hormozgan Province, is Iran’s biggest commercial port and the Shahid Rajaee Special Economic Zone accounts for the highest share of all goods exported from and imported to Iran.
The economic zone, which has a loading/unloading capacity of 100 million tons per year, accounts for over half of Iran's trade and about two-thirds of total freight transit through the country.
The lion’s share of Iran's containers ise handled in Shahid Rajaee Port Complex. With 18 gantry cranes and 40 berths, it is the most advanced container port of Iran.
Launched in 1985, the port has expanded every year and is currently connected to 80 ports worldwide.
The significance of this port lies in its large capacity, including its location in the Persian Gulf, container terminal, fuel bunkering, access to 24 kilometers of railroads and round-the-clock truck transportation.
Main Port of Entry for Essential Goods
Imam Khomeini Port in the southern Khuzestan Province is the main port of entry for essential goods like wheat, corn and rice.
The country’s demand for livestock feed raw materials and grains are largely imported through this southern port.
Overall, Imam Khomeini is Iran’s second busiest port after Shahid Rajaee in Hormozgan Province. It boasts 40 wharfs, 140 kilometers of railroads within its premises and the latest loading and unloading facilities.
A total of 23 million tons of goods were loaded and unloaded at Imam Khomeini Port in H1, according to a local official.
“More than 8 million tons of essential goods were unloaded at the port during the period,” Behrouz Aqaei was also quoted as saying by the news portal of the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development.
The official noted that the handling of chemical fertilizers rose by 200%, wheat by 98% and mineral products and chemicals by 21%.
21% Rise in Exports From Amirabad Port to CIS Members
A total of 480,684 tons of goods were exported from Amirabad Port in the northern Mazandaran Province to member countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States in H1, registering a 24% rise compared with the similar period of last year, according to a local official.
“Throughput at Amirabad Port during the period reached 1.63 million tons,” Mohammad Ali Asl-Saeedipour was quoted as saying.
The official added that freight transport via railroad stood at 45,307 tons, registering a 3% YOY increase.
Transit through the port, he added, experienced a 105% rise compared with the corresponding period of last year.
Mazandaran has three ports, namely Amirabad, Noshahr and Fereydounkenar, with the first being the most active in the region. In fact, Amirabad is the largest port facility on the Caspian shore and the third largest in Iran.
