Iran to Launch New Shipping Lines in Caspian Sea to Raise Exports to Russia

[Aramagedon]

TEHRAN (ISNA)- Iran plans to launch three new shipping lines in Caspian Sea to facilitate goods exports to Russia and Caspian Sea neighboring states.

The shipping lines would be launched in northern Iranian ports of Anzali, Noshahr and Amir-Abad.

Iranian economic officials have decided to expand foreign trading which would come true in global and regional markets, especially with Russia following improvement of international atmosphere for foreign trading.

Iran-Russia trading totals $2 billion and the country’s total export with other Caspian Sea states reach $10-15 billion.

Launching the shipping lines, six trips would be made to Aktau ports in Kazakhstan and Astrakhan in Russia each month.

The ships are capable of carrying 2200-6500 tons of goods and are equipped with refrigerator containers which facilitates carrying sensitive goods such as plants and fruit.

90 percent of Iran’s exports and imports are conducted through sea, 6 percent through transit, two percent via railroad and a little percent through airway.

The move came after Russian officials said Tehran and Moscow have agreed to increase the value of their annual bilateral trade to $10 billion.