BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 19
By Elnur Baghishov - Trend
As much as 44.6 million tons of oil and non-oil products were loaded and unloaded at the Imam Khomeini port of Khuzestan province in southwestern Iran in the last Iranian year (from March 21, 2019 to March 20, 2020), said Director General of Khuzestan Ports and Maritime Organization(PMO) Adil Deris, Trend reports citing IRNA.
According to Deris, loading and unloading of products increased by 9 percent compared to the preceding Iranian year (from March 21, 2018 to March 21, 2019).
Deris added that 15.4 million tons of essential products were unloaded, including corn, barley, compressed soybeans, oilseeds, crude sugar, cooking oil, rice and wheat at the Imam Khomeini port.
The official said that 52 percent growth was recorded in loaded and unloaded factory products and equipment, 38 percent growth was observed in loaded cement products, chemicals, metals, clinker, mining soils, iron ore loading rose by 27 percent and 24 percent growth was recorded in container cargo loading.
"Despite US sanctions against Iran, as well as the spread of the coronavirus, imports of products continue," he said.
The Iranian port of Imam Khomeini is located on more than 1,000 hectares in the southern Khuzestan province. The necessary products are loaded and unloaded at this port.
The US imposed new sanctions on Iran in November 2018. Over the past period, the sanctions affected Iranian oil exports, more than 700 banks, companies and individuals.
Iran is one of the countries heavily affected by the rapidly-spreading coronavirus. According to recent reports from the Iranian officials, over 80,800 people have been infected, 5,031 people have already died. Meanwhile, over 55,900 have reportedly recovered from the disease.
The country continues to apply strict measures to contain the further spread. Reportedly, the disease was brought to Iran by a businessman from Iran's Qom city, who went on a business trip to China, despite official warnings. The man died later from the disease.
The Islamic Republic only announced its first infections and deaths from the coronavirus on Feb. 19.