Alternative Trade Corridors Cannot Fully Replace Iran’s Southern Ports Yet

 Mr. Mohammad Navid, Deputy CEO of Sabah Tejarat Hamid Company (active in the field of grain & inputs import), says wartime risks and maritime disruptions have pushed Iranian importers of essential goods into a dual crisis: difficulty securing supplies from foreign sellers and weak infrastructure along alternative trade routes.

According to Navid, many international suppliers now demand full advance payment before shipment, while the lack of war-risk insurance coverage leaves Iranian traders exposed to potentially catastrophic financial losses if cargo is damaged or stranded.

He explained that emerging alternative corridors — including land routes through Pakistan and Turkey as well as expanded use of Chabahar Port — can only partially address Iran’s urgent import needs and are far from capable of replacing southern ports at full scale. H also warned that insufficient unloading facilities, limited storage capacity, congestion at border customs points, and sharply higher transportation costs are slowing cargo movement and increasing operational risks, including potential quality loss during transit.

Mr. Navid added that Iran’s northern ports are already operating at maximum capacity but still cannot handle the country’s overall import demand. According to Navid, many small and medium-sized import companies have effectively halted operations due to uncertainty surrounding the conflict, while establishing stable alternative corridors will require time, major logistical investment, and closer coordination between the government and private sector.