TEHRAN- Over 80 million tons of commodities have been loaded and unloaded at the ports of Iran during the first eight months of the current Iranian calendar year (March 20-November 20), according to the Head of Iran’s Ports and Maritime Organization (PMO) Mohammad Rastad.

Among the mentioned 80 million tons of commodities, oil products with more than 30 million tons and a share of 38 percent stood in the first place, while dry bulk goods with 25 million tons and a share of 31 percent, container goods with 12.3 million tons and a share of 15 percent, general goods with 11 million tons and the share of 14 percent and liquid bulk goods with 1.7 million tons and the share of two percent were in the next ranks, the official announced.

While the coronavirus pandemic has created many limitations for the economic activities all around the world, operations at Iranian ports are underway continuously, and even the U.S. sanctions could not halt activities at the ports.

Last week, Rastad said that the country’s trade gateways were not closed even a moment despite the sanctions and pandemic, adding that loading and unloading of goods, especially the essential goods, are continuously conducted at the ports.

As announced by the PMO head, loading and unloading of commodities are being conducted continuously at the ports of Iran while the health requirements are completely met.

Rastad has reiterated that all port operations are done observing healthcare protocols and the principles set by the Coronavirus Containment Headquarters.

Activities at Chabahar Port (Iran’s only oceanic port in southeastern Sistan-Baluchestan Province), and Shahid Rajaee Port (Iran’s largest container port in southern Hormozgan Province) in the recent months prove and underline Iran’s outstanding performance under the difficult condition of the sanctions and the pandemic.

In a statement on October 15, PMO declared that loading and unloading of commodities are underway continuously at the country’s ports.

While the enemy is trying to halt Iran’s exports and imports through imposing sanctions, operation at Iranian ports are underway without interruption as the result of the all-out efforts of the organization’s personnel, the statement reads.

Meanwhile, as the PMO head has announced, 11 new development projects with 59 trillion rials (over $1.4 billion) of investment are currently underway at the Iranian ports.

Not only the sanctions could not stop development activities at the ports of Iran, some new development projects have been also defined, Rastad has underscored.

The third phase of the development plan of Shahid Rajaee Port is one of the major projects which is going to go operational by the end of the current Iranian calendar year (March 20, 2021).

While Iran is combating the U.S. unilateral sanctions on its economy, the country’s ports as the major gates of exports and imports play some significant role in this battle, and the ongoing operation at the ports indicates that they are playing their part perfectly.

As reported, loading and unloading of commodities at the ports of Iran have risen six percent during the past Iranian calendar year (ended on March 19).

MA/MA