A total of 17.45 million tons of essential goods were unloaded at Iran’s ports of entry during the first nine months of the current Iranian year (March 21-Dec. 21), new data released by the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development show.
Corn had the biggest share of unloaded goods with 6.5 million tons to register a 1% rise compared with last year’s corresponding period, News.mrud.ir reported.
It was followed by wheat with 3.99 million tons (down 16.15%), soybean with 2.79 million tons (down 26.13%), barley with 1.81 million tons (down 31.02%), unprocessed vegetable oil with 1.49 million tons (up 6%), sugar with 1.15 million tons (up 26%) and rice with 173,328 tons (up 4%).
Also known as necessity or basic goods, essential goods refer to products consumers will buy, regardless of changes in income levels.
According to Ports and Maritime Organization, a total of 650,226 trucks and 21,232 wagons transported the abovementioned essential goods from the ports of entry to destinations across the country.
Main Port of Entry for Essential Goods
Imam Khomeini Port 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.
According to the director general of Khuzestan Ports and Maritime Organization, 12 million tons of essential goods have been unloaded at Imam Khomeini Port since the beginning of the current Iranian year on March 21.
“The imports were transported by 209 vessels. Around 50% of the consignments belonged to the private sector, and the rest to the government,” Behrouz Aqaei was also quoted as saying by IRNA.
The official added that around 10 million tons of the unloaded cargo have already been sent to destinations across the country, noting that 5.7 million tons of essential goods still remain at Imam Khomeini Port’s warehouses, anchorage and wharfs.
Last Year in Review
In the last fiscal year (March 2021-22), around 30.9 million tons of essential goods worth $19.6 billion were imported, according to the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration, registering a 32% and 60% rise in weight and value respectively compared with the year before.
Last year, Imam Khomeini Port with 12.59 million tons topped the list of ports through which essential goods were imported. These goods included 7.71 million tons of corn, 2.95 million tons of wheat, 1.32 million tons of barley and 607,021 tons of sugar.
Total Throughput of Iranian Ports
A total of 159.56 million tons of cargo were loaded/unloaded at Iran’s 22 commercial ports during the March 21-Dec. 21 period, registering a 6% rise compared with the similar period of last year, according to the Ports and Maritime Organization of Iran show.
Total unloading volume stood at 58.62 million tons (20.54 million tons of oil and 38.07 million tons of non-oil goods), which indicate a 6% year-on-year rise, IRNA reported.
The loading volume hit 100.94 million tons (57.67 million tons of oil and 43.26 million tons of non-oil goods), indicating a 6% increase compared with the corresponding period of last year.
Container throughput stood at 1.83 million TEUs to register an 8% 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 at 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, located in the southern Hormozgan Province, 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 are handled in Shahid Rajaee Port Complex.
With 18 gantry cranes and 40 berths, Shahid 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.
