Key Iran-Armenia gateway handles record cargo in first half of year

Norduz Customs, the sole land border crossing between Iran and Armenia, has reported significant growth in trade and revenue during the first half of 2025, according to the customs’ director, Reza Taghizadeh.

Taghizadeh said the main export commodities processed through the Norduz crossing included rebar, cement, profiles, fruit, clinker, and sodium sulphate, Caliber.Az reports via Iranian media.

He added that over 274,000 tonnes of goods from other Iranian customs points, valued at $158 million, were also exported via Norduz during this period.

The customs chief noted that 4,795 temporary import declarations were processed, comprising 94 passenger vehicles and 4,701 trucks, marking a 21% decrease compared with the same period last year.

Norduz also handled more than 176,000 tonnes of domestic and international transit cargo, up 13% year-on-year. Major transit items included car parts, cigarettes, fruit, machinery, and iron products. In total, 86,000 trucks passed through the crossing to transport both exports and transit goods.

Passenger traffic at Norduz rose by 20%, with 341,207 travellers receiving customs services. During the period, 56 smuggling cases were recorded, with a total value of 16 billion rials.

Revenue collected by Norduz Customs reached 1,957 billion rials, more than four times higher than the same period last year.

Strategically located around 190 kilometres northwest of Tabriz, Norduz serves as Iran’s only land gateway to Armenia and a key route for trade with Eurasian Union member states.

By Aghakazim Guliyev