A total of 15.6 million tons of essential goods were unloaded at Iranian ports during the first eight months of the current Iranian year (March 21-Nov. 21), new data released by the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development show.
Corn with 5.75 million tons had the highest share of imported essential goods, registering a 1% rise compared with the corresponding period of last year, News.mrud.ir reported.
It was followed by wheat with 3.85 million tons (down 0.47%), soybean with 2.4 million tons (down 32.37%), barley with 1.47 million tons (down 39.76%), sugar with 1.08 million tons (up 27%), unrefined vegetable oil with 863,732 tons (down 35%) and rice with 170,610 tons (up 4%).
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 (ended March 2022), 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 are 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.
Throughput of Ports
Iran’s 22 commercial ports handled 142.77 million tons of cargo during the same period (March 21-Nov. 21), registering an 8% rise compared with the similar period of last year, according to PMO.
The volume of unloading stood at 53.05 million tons, including 18.5 million tons of oil and 34.54 million tons of non-oil goods, to register a 14% year-on-year rise, IRNA reported.
The loading volume was registered at 89.72 million tons, including 51.88 million tons of oil and 37.84 million tons of non-oil goods, registering a 7% rise compared with the corresponding period of last year.
Container throughput stood at 1.66 million TEUs, registering a 12% 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.
According to PMO, a total of 205.34 million tons of goods were loaded and unloaded in Iran’s 22 commercial ports during the fiscal 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 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.
A majority of Iran's containers are handled in the Shahid Rajaee Port Complex.
With 18 gantry cranes and 40 berths, Rajaee is the most advanced container port of Iran.
Launched in 1985, the port has expanded every year 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.
