Iran Trade Falls 28% as Land Routes Clog with 3,700 Trucks
Land trade surges to $3.2 billion with Turkey, but delays cut overall exports by 28% and inflation hits 90%.
Key points
- Iranian non-oil exports fell 28% to $15 billion in the five months ending August 22.
- Overland shipping costs $12,000 per container, quadrupling the $3,000 cost of sea freight.
- Trade with Turkey rose 19% to $3.2 billion, but 3,700 trucks are stranded at the border.
Iran’s non-oil exports dropped 28% to $15 billion in the five months ending August 22.
The decline reflects a failed shift from sea to land as U.S. naval blockades close southern ports.
Land routes face severe bottlenecks
Convoy congestion at the Turkish border has left 3,700 trucks stranded on the Iranian side.
Drivers report waiting up to 24 days for customs clearance, causing perishable goods to spoil.
Infrastructure in Afghanistan and Turkmenistan lacks warehouses and registration systems to handle the volume.
Costs rise sharply for overland freight
Shipping a single container via land costs $12,000, four times the $3,000 sea rate.
This price gap adds an estimated $18 billion in annual transportation burdens to the economy.
Fortune reports that these delays have driven inflation to 90% and triggered gasoline shortages.
Strait of Hormuz remains vital
Iranian business leaders acknowledge that sea routes are essential for long-term economic survival.
