Iran and Oman traded 2.29 million tons of commodities worth $593 million during the first nine months of the current Iranian year (March 20, 2020-Jan. 19), showing a 33% increase in value compared with the similar period of last year, according to the chairman of Iran-Oman Chamber of Commerce.
“Iran’s exports amounted to 1.26 million tons worth $274.65 million, registering a 16% YOY decline,” Mohsen Zarrabi said.
He noted that imports stood at 979,101 tons worth $318.43 million.
Zarrabi said there are many reasons for the decrease in Iran’s exports to the neighboring Oman, the main ones being the Central Bank of Iran’s directives, export earning repatriation in particular, forex regulations and bans on the export of different commodities by local officials.
Referring to the shipping routes between the Iranian ports of Jask, Shahid Bahonar, Shahid Rajaee and Khorramshahr and Omani ports of Al Suwaiq, Shinas, Sohar and Sultan Qaboos Port, Zarrabi said, “Unlike other countries which closed their borders with Iran following the spread of the new coronavirus, Oman increased its shipping lines with Iranian ports to reduce the transportation costs of its imports.”
Oman has closed all its air routes to control the spread of the virus. There were nine direct flights from the Iranian cities of Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz, Chabahar, Qeshm, Kish, Mashhad, Lar and Lamerd to Oman’s Muscat before the pandemic.