Close to 14 million tons of essential goods were unloaded at Iranian ports during the first seven months of the current Iranian year (March 21-Oct. 22), latest data released by the Ports and Maritime Organization of Iran show.
More than 4.87 million tons of corn were unloaded, registering a 3% increase compared with the corresponding period of last year.
A total of 3.7 million tons of wheat were unloaded during the period, showing a 28% rise compared with the similar period of last year.
Soybean unloading exceeded 2.2 million tons, registering a 32.5% fall.
A total of 1.03 million tons of sugar were unloaded, indicating a 34% rise.
More than 1.19 million tons of barley were unloaded, indicating a 45.8% decline.
Edible vegetable oil unloading stood at 821,931 tons, showing a 34.6% decline.
Rice unloading grew by 2% to stand at 176,469 tons.
During the seven-month period, 459,938 trucks and 14,995 wagons transported essential goods from ports to their destinations across the country.
Also known as necessity or basic goods, essential goods are products consumers will buy, regardless of changes in income levels.
In the last Iranian year (March 2021-22), around 30.9 million tons of essential goods worth $19.6 billion were imported, IRICA data show, registering a 32% and 60% rise in weight and value respectively compared with the year before.
Imam Khomeini in the southern Khuzestan Province is the main port of entry for essential goods.
The lion’s share of the country’s demand for livestock feed raw material and grains is 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 equipped with the latest loading and unloading facilities.
7% Rise in Total Throughput
A total of 124.7 million tons of cargos were loaded and unloaded in Iran’s 22 commercial ports during 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 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 Haqani, 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 Iran’s 22 commercial 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.
Shahid Rajaee is Iran’s biggest commercial port.
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 is 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 today 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 the first half of the current Iranian year (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.
Abbasnejad said container throughput stood at 940,000 TEUs as 3.1 million tons of foreign goods were transited through Shahid Rajaee Port during the period.
