A total of 11.38 million tons of goods (excluding crude oil) worth $4.7 billion were exported from the southwestern Khuzestan Province during the first eight months of the current Iranian year (March 21-Nov. 21), registering an 8% and 12% rise in terms of weight and value respectively compared with the corresponding period of last year, according to Behrouz Qareh-Beigi, a local official.
Petrochemical products, benzene, mechanical equipment, steel, agricultural products, construction materials, metal products and handicrafts were the main products exported during the period.
“The main destinations were China, India, Turkey, Iraq, Russia, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Persian Gulf countries,” the official was quoted as saying by IRIB News.
He added that 11.72 tons of goods worth $6.92 billion were imported into Khuzestan during the same period, registering a 4% fall in terms of weight, but a 1% rise in value compared with the corresponding period of last year.
Exports from Khuzestan are mainly shipped through the Imam Khomeini Port that is also the main port of entry for essential goods (wheat, barley, rice and edible oil).
The lion’s share of Iran’s demand for livestock feed raw material and grains are imported through this port, which is the country’s second busiest port after Shahid Rajaee Port in Hormozgan Province.
Imam Khomeini boasts 40 wharfs, 140 kilometers of railroads within its premises and the latest loading and unloading facilities.
Other ports in Khuzestan include Khorramshahr, Abadan and Arvandkenar.
The total throughput capacity of Khuzestan Ports is 60 million tons per year.
Khuzestan is the major oil-producing region of Iran and is home to Yadavaran Field, which is a major oilfield. The province holds 80% of Iran's onshore oil reserves and 57% of Iran's total oil reserves, making it indispensable to the Iranian economy.
Local agricultural products include wheat, barley, oilseeds, rice, eucalyptus, medicinal herbs and sugarcane. The province is also home to many palm and citrus farms.
The province is also home to the Arvand Free Trade Zone and the PETZONE (Petrochemical Special Economic Zone in Mahshahr).
The Arvand zone is located on the northern tip of Persian Gulf and borders Khuzestan Province and the major cities of Khorramshahr, Abadan and Minoushahr. The zone is spread across 8,600 hectares and includes administrative, tourism and commercial areas.
The free zone is of special significance, as it is in the neighborhood of Iraq and Kuwait.
Bordering Arvand River and beyond that southern Iraq, the FTZ has a unique proposition on offer. It has direct access to the Iraqi market.
Among all of Iran’s neighboring countries, Iraq is the largest market for Iranian products.
In 2004, the zone’s transformation from a rural to industrial and commercial region started. It was officially demarcated by 2005.
Some 190 production units are active in Arvand FTZ.
