TEHRAN - The nominal capacity of Iranian ports has increased by 32 million tons over the past 2.5 years, according to Transport and Urban Ministry data.

Based on the mentioned data, the capacity of the Iranian portd which was 264 million tons reached 296 million tons during the tenure of the Late President Ebrahim Raisi, IRNA reported.

As reported, the container capacity of the country’s ports has also increased by 700,000 TEU in the mentioned period to reach 8.7 million TEUs.

In late February, Transport and Urban Development Minister Mehrdad Bazrpash said the container capacity of Iranian ports is going to increase by 200 million tons with the completion of two new ports in the Makran Coasts, namely Makran Port and Persian Gulf Port.

Reporting on the recent developments in the maritime sector in line with the policies for a maritime-based economy, Bazrpash said: “Upon operation of Makran Port, which is currently under construction, the container capacity of Iran increases by 200 million tons.“

Only in one and a half years, in Shahid Rajaei Port, the unloading and loading capacity has increased by more than 20 percent, and due to simultaneous investments of the government in the development of large and small ports, the unloading and loading capacity of Iran's ports are about 300 million tons, Bazrpash informed.

During 11 months (from March 2023 to January 2024), the sea trade in Iran has grown by more than nine percent, sea transit by 34 percent, and passenger arrival from sea borders by 10 percent, the minister said.

According to the official, in addition to developing and increasing the capacity of large ports such as Shahid Rajaei, Imam Khomeini, and Shahid Beheshti, the Government is also investing in small ports like Khamir, Sirik, and Arvand Kenar.

The increase in capacity of the maritime cargo and passenger transportation is the result of more than 500 trillion rials (about $1.0 billion) of the private sector's investments, along with the government's investments, Bazrpahs said.

Currently, only in the completion of the first phase of Shahid Beheshti Port in Chabahar, 81 trillion rials (about $162 million) has been invested by the private sector, and there is a tender for the implementation of the second phase of this Port, he added.

Bazarpash also informed about the construction of one-million-ton grain silos, a 30 percent increase in mechanized grain vacuums, and also the construction of 40 vessels with a total investment of more than $120 million.

He further added that: "all indicators in the marine trade show a significant growth".

EF/