IRANIAN container volume increased 11 per cent year on year in 2010 to a record breaking three million TEU, with an overall 12 per cent general cargo hike in non-oil cargo to 97 million tonnes, reported London's CargoSystems.net.

    Private sector investment in Iran's port sector came to US$57 million, according to Seyed Ataollah Sadr, managing director of the state-controlled Ports and Maritime organisation.

    Shahid Rajaee, or Bandar Abbas, is the largest port in Iran and its container traffic of 2.59 million TEU, a 17.5 per cent increase.

    Said Mr Sadr: "The government offers discount of 83 per cent on transshipment cargo and between 20 - 70 per cent on dues for the vessels involved."

    With other cargo-handling, storage and distribution discounts available too, these more than offset the impact of the harsher sanctions imposed by the European Union, the US, Australia, Japan and others on those companies trading with Iran, said the report.

(Source:http://www.schednet.com)