About 18,000 Iranian containers remain stuck in Pakistani ports, Iranian transport representatives say, leaving Pakistan-Iran trade news dominated by a costly clearance deadlock. Officials at a Tehran Chamber of Commerce transport meeting put shipment values for many loads at roughly $20,000 to $30,000, while cumulative storage fees, container demurrage and overland transport costs for some consignments have climbed past $25,000—making clearance uneconomic for owners.
Mohammad-Ali Kargascha, a board member of the International Transport Companies Association of Iran, gave the roughly 18,000 figure during the chamber’s Transport Commission meeting. He said bills of lading registered under intermediary companies, fear of sanctions-related repercussions and very high fees are blocking a way out. In response to follow-up notices, owners of only about 1,000 containers have begun clearance.
How the cargo ended up in Pakistan
The backlog started in March 2026, when maritime transport restrictions tied to the war forced rerouting. Part of the cargo was offloaded at Pakistani ports, but moving it onward to Iran has been slowed by financial and operational hurdles. That has kept pressure on Pakistan-Iran trade volume along the usual port-to-land path, with goods sitting rather than moving.
Peyman Sanandaji, head of the Transport Commission at the Tehran Chamber of Commerce, said the issue is being followed with Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Iranian Embassy in Pakistan. An updated list of cargo owners—sorted by whether goods are meant for Iran or for third countries—is to be sent to Pakistani authorities.
Fees, discounts and a Chabahar proposal
Sanandaji also said some unaccredited firms without Pakistani approval had taken large sums from cargo owners without advancing clearance. At the same meeting, Amir Naqiseh, chief executive of an international logistics firm, said an 80 percent fee discount that had been negotiated earlier still has not been put into effect.
To cut costs, the private sector has proposed moving cargo by sea to Iran’s Chabahar Port on vessels that can carry 300 to 400 containers. That option has not entered the execution phase; it still needs coordination with Pakistan and agreement on costs. Until then, Pakistan-Iran trade routes for this stranded stock remain blocked at the port gate rather than open for onward haulage.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- March 2026: Maritime restrictions linked to the war lead to Iranian cargo being offloaded in Pakistani ports; onward transfer to Iran stalls.
- Since March 2026: Storage, demurrage and overland costs rise; for some shipments those costs exceed $25,000 and approach or match cargo values of about $20,000–$30,000.
- Tehran Chamber Transport Commission meeting (latest reported): About 18,000 containers are described as stranded; only about 1,000 owners have started clearance.
- Same meeting: A previously negotiated 80 percent fee discount remains unimplemented; a sea lift to Chabahar on 300–400-container vessels is proposed but not yet executed.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Lagbhag 18,000 Iranian containers Pakistan ke ports mein phanse hue hain. Kai shipments ki clearance aur transport ki cost un ki qeemat se zyada ho chuki hai. Yeh masla March 2026 se chalta aa raha hai. Abhi tak sirf lagbhag 1,000 containers ke malikan ne clearance shuru ki hai.
