The Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) has been ranked 17th among the world's largest container shipping companies and has remained in the global top 20 for nearly a decade, reported the Tehran Times.

Managing director Mohammadreza Modarres Khiabani said IRISL continues to lead maritime transport in Iran and the region. The company increased its capital by 41 per cent this year to IRR116 trillion rials (US$2.7 billion), despite ongoing sanctions and restrictions.

Global freight rates have declined by 45 to 55 per cent compared with 2024, but Mr Modarres Khiabani said IRISL's performance remains strong.

In the Iranian year 1403 (March 2024-March 2025), container transport rose by 0.4 per cent to more than 860,000 TEU. Bulk cargo volumes reached 10.23 million tons, up 9.3 per cent year-on-year, while the Caspian Sea fleet moved 1.41 million tons, an 11 per cent increase.

IRISL now employs nearly 4,000 Iranian seafarers. In 2019, over 680 foreign crew members were active in the fleet, but the company's maritime training institute has since enabled full domestic staffing, with foreign crew used only in exceptional cases.

The company's assets include 144 vessels with a combined capacity of 5 million deadweight tons, space for 160,000 TEU, 324,000 TEU containers for export and import, and around 1,600 freight wagons across its logistics network.