The decline in throughput comes amid punishing economic sanctions imposed by the US against Iran, the effects of which have been further complicated by the worldwide outbreak of the novel coronavirus and the subsequent downfall in global trade.
According to figures published in the Ports and Maritime Organization of Iran's website, non-oil goods accounted for 6.09 million tons of the total throughput, showing a 27.59% decrease year-on-year.
The remaining 3.18 million tons pertained to oil products, indicating an 8.87% decline YOY.
Container loading and unloading decreased by 10.2% to stand at more than 128,045 TEUs.
More than 3.47 million tons of commodities were exported from the ports under review and over 3.15 million tons were imported, registering a 40.15% decline and a 16.7% increase respectively YOY.
A total of 143,619 tons of goods were transited through the Iranian ports during the same period, indicating a 68.52% decrease YOY.
The 21 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, 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.
More than 139.65 million tons of commodities were loaded and unloaded at these ports in the last Iranian year (March 2019-20) to register a meager rise of 0.17% compared with the corresponding period of last year.
Non-oil goods accounted for more than 95.48 million tons of the total throughput, showing a 0.08% year-on-year growth.
The remaining 44.16 million tons pertained to oil products, indicating a 0.7% increase YOY.
Around 69.65 million tons of commodities were exported from the ports under review and more than 31.15 million tons were imported during the period, marking a 10.28% and 13.92% growth respectively compared with the similar period of last year.
Busiest Ports
A total of 4.33 million tons of commodities were loaded and unloaded in Hormozgan Province’s Shahid Rajaee Port, registering a 28.24% fall compared with the similar period of last year.
In fact, Shahid Rajaee was the country’s busiest port during the period. Non-oil goods accounted for around 2.12 million tons and oil products for more than 2.2 million tons of the total, showing a 48.86% decline and a 17.11% rise respectively year-on-year.
Located 23 kilometers west of the port city of Bandar Abbas, the capital of Hormozgan Province, Shahid Rajaee is Iran’s biggest container port.
Over half of Iran’s commercial trading is carried out at Shahid Rajaee that also accounts for over 85% of all container throughput in the country.
According to Mohammad Reza Rezaei-Kouchi, the head of Majlis Development Commission, Shahid Rajaee Port has a 6% share in the region’s total container throughput per annum, ILNA reported.
Imam Khomeini Port in the southern Khuzestan Province was the second busiest port during the month, handling more than 3.13 million tons of commodities. The figure shows a 12.83% fall YOY.
Non-oil goods accounted for 2.44 million tons and oil products for around 691,748 million tons of the total throughput at Imam Khomeini Port, registering a 1.05% increase and a 41.32% fall respectively year-on-year.
The third busiest was Amirabad Port, located in northern Mazandaran Province. A total of 393,862 tons of goods were loaded and unloaded there, indicating a 6.96% rise compared with the similar period of last year.
Non-oil goods accounted for more than 388,099 tons and oil products for 5,763 tons of the total throughput in Amirabad Port, showing a 6.79% and 20.34% growth respectively YOY.
A total of 57,204 passengers were transported to and from the aforementioned ports, registering a 98.44% plunge compared with last year’s similar period.