What Farmad Container Line does

Farmad Container Line (legal name: Farmad (Shipping Agency) Co., Ltd.) is an Iranian private limited liability company that operates as a Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC) and shipping agency. Founded in 1992 as a general trading company, it was suspended within months and reactivated in 2018 by its two co-founders (Farhad and Mohammad). Headquartered at Chabahar's Shahid Beheshti Port — Iran's only oceanic port — the firm provides container shipping, liner agency and husbandry, feeder services, container trading, bulk cargo chartering, and value-added logistics services primarily across the Iran-India-UAE-Afghanistan trade corridor.

The company's core product is the FARMAD Container Line NVOCC, which includes the CIDACS (Chabahar-India-Dubai-Afghanistan Container Service) with five dedicated routes — CNS (Chabahar-Nhava Sheva, 4 days), CMS (Chabahar-Mundra, 3 days), CDS (Chabahar-Dubai, 2 days), NDS (Nhava Sheva-Dubai, 7 days), and MDS (Mundra-Dubai, 6 days). Its refrigerated container fleet is equipped with Japanese Daikin refrigeration technology featuring Scroll Compressor, Temperature Management System, Hot Gas Defrost, and Dehumidification Control (capable of maintaining 55-85% humidity). The company claims capacity for project shipments of 720x40' reefer containers over a one-year period and 72-hour delivery for dry containers across Iran.

Farmad monetizes through per-container shipping fees, agency commissions from represented shipping lines, slot-charter revenue on feeder services, container sale/lease transactions, chartering fees, and consultancy. Pricing is quote-based, varying by cargo value, weight, special equipment needs, and route availability. Go-to-market is relationship-driven direct sales via eight Iranian branch offices (Chabahar HQ, Tehran regional, plus Bandar Abbas, Bandar Imam Khomeini, Bushehr, Khorramshahr, Asalouyeh, Anzali, and Amir Abad) and commissioned agents in India and UAE, supplemented by a Request A Quote funnel on its website. Customers include importers/exporters moving cargo through Iranian ports, perishable-goods shippers, international shipping lines requiring Iranian agency representation, and Afghanistan/Central Asia transit trade operators.

Name

Farmad Container Line

Legal name

Farmad (Shipping Agency) Co., Ltd.

Website

https://farmad.co

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Farmad Container Line is an Iranian NVOCC and shipping agency headquartered in Chabahar, operating container shipping, liner agency, and bulk cargo services across the Iran-India-UAE-Afghanistan corridor with a Daikin-equipped reefer fleet.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Container Shipping and Maritime Logistics

NAICS

Marine Cargo Handling (488320), Port and Harbor Operations (488310)

SIC

Deep Sea Foreign Transportation Of Freight (4412)

akta.pro primary industry

Mainline Container Liner Carriers (TLADABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Reefer Container (Port/Intermodal) Cold Storage & Plug-In Yards (TLALABAK), Marine Terminals & Port Storage (Jetties, Docking, Bunkering Interfaces) (EUALAEAG)

Keywords

• Container shipping services
• Refrigerated cargo transport
• Shipping agency services
• NVOCC operations
• Maritime logistics

Headquarters

HQ city

Chabahar, Sistan va Baluchestan

HQ country

Iran

HQ region

Middle East

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Container Service (NVOCC): Core revenue stream from providing container shipping services between Iranian ports and international destinations, particularly the Iran-India route through Chabahar port. Revenue is generated per container shipped, with rates influenced by cargo type, weight, special equipment needs, and route availability.
2. Liner Agency / Husbandry Services: Shipping agency services handling various types of ships (mother vessels, feeder vessels), containers, bulk, and break-bulk cargo in all Iranian ports. Services include terminal/depot operation, inventory control, documentation, underwater diving, repairs, ship chandlery, bunker provision, water supply, crew services, and inspection. Revenue generated as agency commissions from shipping lines represented.
3. Feeder Services: Handling feeder vessels circulating or shuttling in the Persian Gulf area, Indian sub-continent, and South East Asia. Revenue generated from slot charter arrangements.
4. Container Trade: Buying, selling, and leasing various types/sizes of brand new and second-hand containers in Iran and worldwide through business partners/agents. Three solutions offered: Straight Purchase, Container Leasing, and Container Lease-purchase.
5. General/Bulk Cargo Chartering: Chartering of General Cargo/Bulk Ships, Barge+Tug Combos, and Landing-Crafts. Revenue from freight charges based on cargo type, vessel requirements, and charter terms.
6. Consultancy Services: Three decades of accumulated know-how in shipping, freight forwarding, logistics, customs clearance, and trading offered as consultancy services to clients seeking tailored solutions.
7. Value-Added Services: Multimodal/combined transportation, logistics solutions, supply chain management, freight forwarding, customs clearance, in-land transit, survey arrangements, insurance arrangements, warehouse management, and packaging & labeling services provided through group companies and global agents.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Farmad Container Line is an Iranian NVOCC (Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier) providing container shipping services between Iranian ports and international destinations, particularly Chabahar port and India/UAE via the CIDACS service. The company specializes in refrigerated cargo transport using Daikin-equipped reefer containers, alongside container trade (purchase/leasing), liner agency/husbandry services, feeder vessel operations, and general/bulk cargo chartering.

Product overview

FARMAD Container Line operates as a comprehensive shipping and logistics services company with a platform-plus-modules architecture. The core offering includes Container Service (ISO container shipping), Container Trade (buying/selling/leasing containers), and FARMAD Container Line as an NVOCC operator. The NVOCC includes the CIDACS sub-product with specific route services (CNS, CMS, CDS, NDS, MDS). Additional services include General/Bulk Cargo Chartering, Liner Agency/Husbandry, and Feeder Services. Value-Added Services and Consultancy serve as add-on modules providing multimodal transportation, logistics, customs clearance, and specialized advisory. The company specializes in refrigerated cargo transportation using DAIKIN-equipped reefer containers, primarily serving Iran-India-UAE-Afghanistan trade routes through Chabahar port.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FARMAD CONTAINER LINE: Container shipping service between Chabahar and Indian ports as well as UAE, focusing on refrigerated goods exports from Iran and Afghanistan to India.

Products and services

• Container Service Core shipping service for import/export goods to/from Iranian ports using various ISO container types (Dry, Reefer, Open Top, Flat Rack, Tank, Platform). Offers timely delivery at reasonable cost with proper documentation and tracking capabilities, targeting importers and exporters moving goods through Iranian ports.
• Container Trade Buying, selling, and leasing of new and second-hand containers across Iran and worldwide through business partners/agents. Offers Straight Purchase, Container Leasing, and Container Lease-purchase options. Dry containers are deliverable within 72 hours across Iran upon order confirmation.
• FARMAD Container Line (NVOCC) Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier service providing container shipping between Chabahar port and Indian ports, UAE, and Afghanistan. Specializes in refrigerated goods transportation for perishable cargo shippers, with the CIDACS service as a dedicated sub-network.
• General/Bulk Cargo Chartering Chartering services for general cargo and bulk ships, including Break Bulk, Neo Bulk, Liquid Bulk, and Dry Bulk cargo handling. Also handles barge+tug combos and landing-crafts for various cargo types and vessel requirements.
• Liner Agency/Husbandry Shipping agency services handling various ship types (Mother vessels/Feeder Vessels), containers, bulk, and break-bulk cargo in all Iranian ports. Includes Terminal/Depot Operation, Documentation, Underwater Diving, Repairs, Ship Chandlery, Bunker Provision, Water Supply, Crew Services, and Inspection services.
• Feeder Services Handling feeder vessels circulating or shuttling in the Persian Gulf area, Indian sub-continent, and South East Asia with experienced staff ready for short-notice changes in loading lists, generating revenue from slot charter arrangements.
• Value-Added Services Supplementary logistics services including Multimodal/Combined Transportation, Logistics Solutions, Supply Chain Management, Freight Forwarding, Customs Clearance, In-land Transit, Survey Arrangements, Insurance Arrangements, Warehouse Management, and Packaging & Labeling services provided through group companies and global agents.
• Consultancy Specialized consultancy services drawing on six decades of accumulated know-how in shipping, freight forwarding, logistics, customs clearance, and trading to provide tailored solutions to clients seeking expert advisory in maritime logistics.
• Refrigerated Container Fleet (Reefer) Reefer containers equipped with Japanese DAIKIN refrigeration technology featuring Scroll Compressor, Temperature Management System, Hot Gas Defrost, and Dehumidification Control (55-85% humidity range) for transporting perishable goods through Chabahar port routes.

Quantifiable outcome

• CIDACS transit times: Chabahar-Nhava Sheva 4 days, Chabahar-Mundra 3 days, Chabahar-Dubai 2 days, Nhava Sheva-Dubai 7 days, Mundra-Dubai 6 days
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• CSM Shipping Agency Co., Ltd.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2019CSM Shipping Agency Co., Ltd. serves as Farmad's primary agent in Iran, with offices in Tehran (3rd Floor, No. 66, West Armaghan St., Valiasr Ave.), Bandar Abbas (4th Floor, Yas Building, Near Queen of Skies Tower), and Bandar Chabahar (Administrative & Commercial Complex, Shahid Beheshti Port). Handles sales and customer service for Farmad's shipping services across Iran.
• India Ports Global Private Limited (IPGPL)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Government-owned Indian company (joint venture between Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust and Kandla Port Trust, in partnership with Iran's Aria Banader) that took over operations of Chabahar Shahid Beheshti Port in December 2018. IPGPL aims to handle 250,000 TEUs and develop the port's capacity from 2.5 million to 8 million tons. Farmad relocated its HQ to Chabahar to play an active role in this development.
• Kaveh Port and Marine ServicesmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Iranian company selected by IPGPL for running interim operations at Chabahar Shahid Beheshti Port starting December 2018. As Farmad's head office is located at Chabahar Shahid Beheshti Port, this operational partner is key to Farmad's day-to-day port operations.
• Aquatic Freights Pvt LtdcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndian agent with offices in Mumbai/Nhava Sheva (119 B Wing, Shree Nand Dham, Plot No 59, Sector 11, CBD Belapur, Navi Mumbai 400614) and Mundra (8, 2nd Floor, Neelam Complex, Plot No. 298, Ward 12-B, Gandhidham, Gujarat 370 201). Facilitates bookings and customer support for Farmad's CIDACS India routes (CNS, CMS services).
• Delta Waterways Pvt. Ltd.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndian agent with offices in Mumbai (Unit No. 1007 & 1008, 10th Floor, Topiwala Centre, Station Road, Goregaon West, Mumbai 400062) and Gandhidham (209, 210, 2nd Floor, Plot No. 84, Sector-8, Gandhidham, Kutch). Represents Farmad in India for NVOCC services.
• Capeline Shipping L.L.C.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUAE agent with office in Dubai (Office No.307, Montana Building, P.O. Box 50732, Karama, Dubai, U.A.E). Facilitates Farmad's CDS (Chabahar-Dubai Service) and NDS (Nhava Sheva-Dubai Service) routes.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• IRISL (Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines): Iran's national shipping carrier operating container, bulk, and tanker services from Iranian ports to global destinations. Most direct Iranian peer with overlapping NVOCC, agency, and reefer capabilities serving the same trade corridors.
• Simatech Shipping & Logistics: UAE-based NVOCC and shipping group operating container, break-bulk, and project cargo services across the Middle East, Indian subcontinent, and Persian Gulf. Closely comparable business model to Farmad with similar route coverage and agency operations.
• Emirates Shipping Line: UAE-based container feeder and NVOCC operator focused on Middle East, India, and East Africa trade lanes. Closely comparable regional container carrier with similar Persian Gulf-India network.
• SITC International Holdings: Hong Kong-listed Asian container liner with strong reefer container fleet and intra-Asia/Middle East/India service coverage. Highly comparable in container liner business model and reefer specialization targeting perishable goods.

Broad incumbents

• Maersk: World's largest container liner operator with integrated logistics, reefer, and agency services. Indirect incumbent competitor on Iran-India trade corridors, including through reefer capabilities and Persian Gulf port coverage.
• Pacific International Lines (PIL): Singapore-based container liner operator serving Asia, Middle East, Africa, and Indian Ocean trade lanes. Comparable as a regional incumbent with container liner operations on routes overlapping Farmad's network.
• ZIM Integrated Shipping Services: Israel-based container liner with intensive Asia-India-Middle East service coverage and strong digital platform. Comparable as a regional incumbent with overlapping trade lane and similar customer base.
• Shipping Corporation of India (SCI): India's national maritime carrier operating container, bulk, tanker, and offshore services globally. Comparable as a major incumbent on the India-Middle East trade lane Farmad serves, with significantly larger scale and fleet.
• KMTC (Korea Marine Transport): South Korea's container and bulk carrier with strong Asia-Middle East presence and one of the world's largest reefer container fleets. Relevant peer given Farmad's Daikin-equipped reefer specialization.

Regional players

• Bahri (National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia): Saudi Arabia's national shipping carrier operating container, bulk, tanker, and ro-ro services globally, with strong Middle East-India trade presence. Comparable regional player serving overlapping Persian Gulf and Indian subcontinent routes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/farmadshipping
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/farmad-shipping-agency
• Instagraminstagram.com/farmadshipping

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Farmad Container Line