A total of 124.7 million tons of cargos were loaded and unloaded in Iran’s 22 commercial ports during the first seven months of the current Iranian year (March 21-Oct. 22), registering a 7% rise compared with the similar period of last year, latest data released by the Ports and Maritime Organization of Iran show.
The unloading volume stood at 46.44 million tons, including 16.06 million tons of oil and 30.38 million tons of non-oil products, registering a 10% year-on-year rise, IRNA reported.
The loading volume stood at 78.25 million tons, including 45.95 million tons of oil and 32.3 million tons of non-oil goods, indicating a 6% increase compared with the corresponding period of last year.
Container throughput stood at 1.4 million TEUs during the period, registering a 9% YOY rise.
The 22 commercial 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.
According to PMO, a total of 205.34 million tons of goods were loaded and unloaded in Iranian ports during the last Iranian year (March 2021-22), registering a 14% rise compared with the year before.
Around 73.25 million tons of oil products and 57.69 million tons of non-oil goods were loaded at the ports during the period, indicating a 19% and 7% growth.
A total of 24 million tons of oil products and 49.51 million tons of non-oil commodities were unloaded, registering a 6% and 14% increase compared with the previous year, the news portal of the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development reported.
Container throughput stood at 2.21 million TEUs, showing a 12% YOY rise.
Iran’s Biggest Commercial Port
Shahid Rajaee, located in the southern Hormozgan Province, is Iran’s biggest commercial port.
The namesake 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 are 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 annually and is 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.
Shahid Rajaee Port handled 38 million tons of goods during March 21-Sept. 22, according to a local official.
“The port accounted for 45% of the total throughput registered by all of Hormozgan Province’s ports during the period,” Hossein Abbasnejad, director general of Hormozgan Ports and Maritime Organization, was quoted as saying by IRIB News.
Loading and unloading of non-oil goods stood at 22 million tons and those of oil products at 16 million tons, he added.
The official stated that container throughput stood at 940,000 TEUs, as 3.1 million tons foreign goods were transited through Shahid Rajaee during the period.
Imam Khomeini: 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, oilseeds and rice.
The lion’s share of the country’s demand for livestock feed raw material and grains are imported through this southern port. It is Iran’s second busiest port after Shahid Rajaee Port 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 during March 21-Sept. 22, 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 said the handling of chemical fertilizers rose by 200%, wheat by 98% and mineral products and chemicals by 21%.
