Iran boosts shipment capacity to 184 million tons

TEHRAN,May 12(MNA) – Shipment capacity at Iranian ports has increased to 184 million tons per year, IRIB quoted head of Iran’s Ports and Maritime Organization Ataollah Sadr as saying. Last [Iranian calendar year], 140 million tons of goods were shipped through the ports, showing 5 percent rise compared to the year before, he added. The past Iranian year ended on March 20. Over 200 ports are in operation across the country, henoted. In April, the Fars News Agency quoted Sadr as saying that Iran earns some 14 trillion rials (about $1.15 billion) annually through transiting goods via ports. Around $140 billion worth of goods are annually transited via Iranian ports, he added. In February, IRNA quoted Iranian Roads and Urban Development Minister Ali Nikzad as saying that the total capacity of Iranian ports has increased by 80 million tons during the past eight years, reaching 184 million tons. Emam Khomeini and Shahid Rajaii ports are the two key ports, accounting for 90 percent of the total capacity, he added. Meanwhile, in February, ISNA quoted Sadr as saying that building 60 small and multi-purpose ports across Iran is underway.