“The figure shows a 73% year-on-year increase,” Mojtaba Bazgir told IRNA.
Petrochemical and agricultural products, stones, ceramics and iron have been among the exported commodities from Bazargan located in West Azarbaijan Province on the border with Turkey.
The northwestern Iranian province of West Azarbaijan has different border crossings with Turkey, Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic and Iraq.
Bazargan’s customs office, which is Iran’s gateway to Europe, is open 24 hours a day.
There have been reports over the past few days about the long lines of transit trucks waiting behind Bazargan border terminal in northwest Iran.
According to director general of Transit and International Transportation Bureau of Iran Road Maintenance and Transportation Organization, low and poor performance of this border terminal is one of the main problems.
Javad Hedayati also told IRNA that another reason for the heavy traffic at this border gate is the mourning month of Muharram when people from both sides of the border head home.
According to the official, 450 trucks exit Bazargan border terminal and 350 trucks enter this terminal every day.
“Data coming from Bazargan border terminal show up to 1,200 trucks carrying exported goods on the Iranian side have been stranded, which lasts from one to two weeks. This indicates that the efficiency at this border is low,” he was also quoted as saying by Mehr News Agency on August 16.
Bazargan in Maku County is the most important Iranian land border for importing and exporting from and to Turkey. The city has common borders with Iraq and Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.
Its customs office, established in the fiscal 1926-27, is the only international border between Iran and Turkey that works round the clock.
Out of Iran’s 22 border crossings, Bazargan in Maku, Razi in Khoy, Sarv in Urmia, Sanam Baqi in Poldasht and Tamarchin in Piranshahr are located in West Azarbaijan Province.
To stem the spread of Covid-19, Turkey in March last year shut its border gates with neighboring countries, including Iran and Iraq.
The Bazargan border initially opened for trade in May 2020, but restrictions were applied regarding incoming and outgoing truck traffic.
According to Spokesman of the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration Rouhollah Latifi, 60 Iranian trucks per day were allowed to transfer exports to Turkey from Iran as per new agreements as of May 5.
Trucks started arriving at border gates after Turkish Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan announced in June last year that Turkey has reopened the Gurbulak border gate with Iran (known as Bazargan on the Iranian side of the border).
Trucks from Iran started arriving at the Gurbulak customs gate after the announcement and were to enter Turkey after the completion of necessary procedures. Turkish trucks looking to enter Iran also started arriving at the border gate.