Nearly 18,000 Iranian cargo containers remain stranded at Pakistani ports as exorbitant storage fees, demurrage costs and overland transportation expenses make the clearance and onward movement of shipments increasingly uneconomical, according to Iranian trade officials.
Mohammad-Ali Kargascha, a board member of Iran’s International Transport Companies Association, disclosed the figures at a meeting of the Tehran Chamber of Commerce, noting that accumulated clearance charges for some shipments have exceeded $25,000.
The financial burden has left many cargo owners reluctant to retrieve their goods, as the combined cost of clearance and transportation often matches or exceeds the value of the shipments, estimated at between $20,000 and $30,000.
The congestion began in March 2026 after maritime transport restrictions triggered by the Middle East war disrupted shipping operations. During initial rerouting efforts, cargo vessels discharged Iranian-bound goods at Pakistani ports, leaving thousands of containers awaiting onward transportation.
High charges and sanctions concerns delay clearance
Financial constraints, intermediary bills of lading and concerns over sanctions have complicated efforts to move the stranded cargo. So far, owners of only around 1,000 containers have initiated clearance procedures.
Despite reports that an 80 per cent discount on port-related charges had been negotiated, the concession has yet to be implemented by port officials, according to international transport representatives. Pakistani authorities continue to levy substantial fees on the stranded shipments, further increasing the financial pressure on cargo owners.
Peyman Sanandaji, head of the Tehran Chamber of Commerce’s Transport Commission, said Iranian diplomats were pursuing the issue with Pakistani officials. Updated lists of affected cargo owners are also expected to be submitted to facilitate further discussions.
Sanandaji additionally warned that unaccredited and unauthorised companies had collected excessive sums from cargo owners without delivering effective solutions to release the shipments. The private sector is now seeking diplomatic intervention to resolve the impasse.
Direct shipment to Chabahar under consideration
As an alternative to the existing arrangements, private trade groups have proposed transporting the stranded goods by sea directly to Iran’s Chabahar Port. Under the proposal, smaller vessels capable of carrying between 300 and 400 containers would be deployed to move the cargo.
However, the plan remains stalled pending agreement between Iran and Pakistan on transportation costs, operational arrangements and high-level diplomatic coordination.
The prolonged blockage highlights the financial and logistical challenges facing regional supply chains amid geopolitical disruptions. Unless port charges are reduced and a viable transport corridor is established, thousands of containers could remain stranded, exposing cargo owners to mounting costs and further delays.