Non-Oil Exports From Bushehr Exceed $7 Billion

More than 19.6 million tons of non-oil products worth close to $7.4 billion were exported from Bushehr Province during the first half of the current Iranian year (March 21-Sept. 22), registering no significant changes compared with the corresponding period of last year.

Gas condensates, petrochemicals, fertilizers, cement and clinker, farmed fish and shrimps, sulfur, limestone, watermelons and melons were the main goods exported from the province to China, the UAE, South Korea, India, Japan, Indonesia, Turkey and Malaysia, IRNA reported, quoting a local official.

About 605,000 tons of goods worth $1.28 billion were imported through Bushehr’s 14 customs offices during the period, indicating a 17% and 22% growth in weight and value respectively.

Automotives, bananas, rice, motorcycle parts, tires, black tea, toys and air conditioners were the main products imported over the period, mainly from China, the UAE, Philippines, South Korea, India, Ecuador, Kuwait, New Zealand, Japan and some European countries.  

The southern Iranian province, which has a 937-kilometer coastline alongside the Persian Gulf, is home to an eponymous port, which accounts for more than half of Iran’s maritime trade.

According to director general of Bushehr Ports and Maritime Organization, Mohammad Mehdi Banchari, the first half of the current year saw 81 million tons of goods loaded and unloaded in the ports of Bushehr Province. Vessel traffic in Bushehr grew by 8% in the first six months of the year.

Maersk Line added the port of Bushehr to its Iran coverage earlier this year. The Danish carrier resumed services after relaunching calls to Bandar Abbas in October.

With an office in Tehran, the Iranian capital, Maersk said it selected the port because it is the largest gateway for transportation of goods in the province of Bushehr, with an annual throughput of 7 million tons. The port of Bushehr can provide all containerized cargo services and, most significantly, refrigerated products.