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43% Rise in Amirabad Port Throughput

Apr 10, 2018, 6:31 AM
News ID: 24312

EghtesadOnline: More than 3 million tons of commodities have been loaded and unloaded in Iran’s northern Amirabad Port since the beginning of the current Iranian year on March 21, 2017, registering a 43% increase compared with the corresponding period of last year.

The announcement was made by Director General of Amirabad Ports and Maritime Organization and Special Economic Zone Siavash Rezvani on Friday.

Out of the total throughput, according to the official, 84% pertained to imports, 13% to exports and 3% to transit, the news portal of the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development reported.

He added that 802 vessels have docked at the port so far this year, which shows a 33% rise year-on-year, according to Financial Tribune.

Amirabad is the largest port facility on the Caspian shore and the third largest port in Iran. The 1,000-hectare port has nine berths, which can accommodate Ro-Ro vessels, trains and trucks.

About 10 trillion rials ($237 million) worth of investments have been made in the development projects of Amirabad Port, located in the northern Mazandaran Province, since President Hassan Rouhani first term in office began in August 2013, the former head of Amirabad Port and Special Economic Zone said in December. 

“The port has the capacity for loading and unloading 7.5 million tons of cargo. The figure stood at 4 million tons before Rouhani became president,” Ali Khedmatgozar was also quoted as saying by IRNA.

In a visit to Amirabad in April, Rouhani inaugurated the second development phase of the port, consisting of six new berths with a 4-million-ton capacity, as well as new facilities such as warehouses and grain silos.

Rouhani said the development of Amirabad will contribute to “effective trade relations” with the Caspian Sea littoral states and Commonwealth of Independent States, referring to its connection to Iran’s rail network as a big development for Iran’s economy.