Financial Tribune - A total of 23 million tons of goods were loaded and unloaded at Imam Khomeini Port in the southern Khuzestan Province during the first half of the current Iranian year (March 21-Sept. 22).

According to Director General of Khuzestan Ports and Maritime Organization Adel Deris, the port�s operations registered a 59% rise compared with last year's corresponding period.

�Essential goods accounted for around 9 million tons [about 40%] of the total operations,� Deris was quoted as saying by IRNA.

Essential goods are products and services people need to buy, regardless of changes in income levels.

Deris, who doubles as the manager of Imam Khomeini Port's Special Economic Zone, noted that Imam Khomeini Port single-handedly accounts for 80% of Iran's imports of essential goods.