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Carriers flock to Bandar Abbas to tap post-sanction Iran market

THE prospect of economic normality returning to Iran with the lifting of sanctions has prompted of ocean carriers to flock to Persian shores, reports Alphaliner.

Iran's 80 million people represent a substantial market with a large educated middle class that international liner operators are keen to tap.



Hyundai Merchant Marine has started to serve Bandar Abbas (Shahid Rajaee) already in April with its Korea-East Asia-Middle East KMS service, operated with seven ships of 6,300-6,800 TEU.



Hanjin Shipping will follow adding Bandar Abbas market of post-sanction Iran to its Far East-Middle East Express' (FMX) as Yang Ming plans to include the Iranian port on its China Gulf Express (CGX) rotation.



In early August, CMA CGM, UASC and CSCL will also start calling at Bandar Abbas with their Far East-Middle East 慍IMEX/AMA/AGX 1' joint service, with the 11,356-TEU CMA CGM Andromeda expected to call at the Iranian port for the first time on August 6. 



MSC chief executive Diego Aponte visited Tehran earlier this month, holding meetings with his counterpart at Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL).



Most international carriers were forced to drop Iran from their networks in 2012-2013 after sanctions tightened. 



Some carriers called as early as last year after the initial easing of sanctions. These were Wan Hai and PIL, who resumed calls at Bandar Abbas in July 2014 with their jointly operated China-Middle East service (CMS) after a two-year absence.



The opportunities created will also benefit Iran's HDS Lines (Hafiz Darya Shipping), which has taken over most of the still proscribed IRISL containerships.



HDS Lines is expected to re-develop its network, especially to Europe, after the sanctions against the country forced the company to restrict its non-Middle East liner activities to the Far East, India and East Africa. 



HDS currently operates three weekly services connecting Iran with south and east Asia. Multiple Dubai-based niche carriers, some of whom with Iranian roots, will also benefit from the move, says Alphaliner.
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