More than 280,000 tons of commodities worth $124 million were exported to the neighboring Iraq from Ilam Province’s Mehran border crossing during the first two months of the current Iranian year (March 21-May 21), according to the director general of Ilam Customs Office.
“The main exported products included construction material, fruits and vegetables, industrial and plastic products, glass and sheet glass, home appliances and metal products,” Rouhollah Gholami was also quoted as saying by IRNA.
The official noted that over the same period of last year, exports to Iraq from Mehran checkpoint reached a meager $600,000, due to the strict restrictions imposed on trade as a result of the outbreak of the Covid pandemic.
“This year so far, between 300 and 400 trucks have commuted via this western border crossing on a daily basis. All health protocols preventing the spread of coronavirus are observed at the Mehran checkpoint,” he added.
Located 230 km distance from Baghdad, Mehran is Iran’s closest border city to the Iraqi capital. It is 85 km southwest of the city of Ilam.
Freight transport between Iran and Iraq via Mehran border crossing in Ilam Province and Khosravi border crossing in Kermanshah Province resumed on April 14, Tehran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture reported.
Besides the duo, Iraqi Ministry of Transportation approved the reopening of four other border crossings, namely Al-Qaim (with Syria), Trebil (with Jordan), Safwan (with Kuwait) and Arar (with Saudi Arabia), which had been closed to prevent the spread of UK Covid-19 variants.
Iraq had closed down its border crossings with Iran from March to August 2020, after which restrictions were placed on and off until April 14.
Chazzabeh is another border crossing with Iraq located in Iran’s Khuzestan Province. A total of $120 million worth of commodities were exported from the southeastern crossing to Iraq during the last Iranian year (March 2020-21).
“Our main exports were construction material, foodstuff, fruit and vegetable, plastic, cleansers, glass dishes, machine-made carpet and rugs,” Hamid Seylavi, a local official, was quoted as saying by IRNA.
Chazzabeh border crossing’s main commercial exchanges are with Basra and Meysan in western Iraq.
