Some 120,000 tons of commodities were transited to Afghanistan from the southeastern Iranian port of Chabahar during the 14 months ending December 21, according to deputy head of Ports and Maritime Organization of Iran.
Mohammad-Ali Hassanzadeh said that the shipments to Chabahar port — mostly wheat and cereal — were loaded in four Indian ports, IRNA reported.
He said that determining the transportation corridors and agreeing on executive protocols on port, road and customs areas were among the main achievements of the trilateral meeting of Iran, India and Afghanistan.
It is rare in Iran and the entire region that a port can render both transit and transshipment services simultaneously, Hassanzadeh said, adding that having the shortest distance with Asia-Europe shipping line and proximity to Afghanistan, Chabahar port enjoys an exemplary position which enables it to render both transit and transshipment services.
According to statistics, India trades nearly 15 million tons of commodities with Russia and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) — a part of which is expected to be transited via the port of Chabahar, the official said.
With the completion of the first phase of Chabahar port development plan, the capacity of this port grew from 2.5 million tons to 8.5 million tons a year so that it will play a significant role in transit of commodities from India to Afghanistan.
