Taiwan

Xianglu Group is the parent company of Dragon Aromatics.

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"Dragon Aromatics has bought its first cargo of condensate from sanctions-hit Iran in preparation for the start of trial runs at one of China's biggest independent petrochemicals complexes, trade sources said.The petrochemical producer, owned by Taiwan's Xianglu Group, snapped up the cargo of super light crude at a deep discount, as Iran struggles to find buyers amid tightening Western sanctions.The cargo of one million barrels of South Pars condensate was bought at a discount of about $8 a barrel to dated Brent compared with a $4 discount for a comparable grade low sulphur condensate (LSC) from Qatar, traders said. That implies Dragon is benefitting about $4 million on the cargo it bought from Chinese state-run oil trader Zhuhai Zhenrong, for delivery on Nov. 8...The group is set to win government permission to import condensate, making it the only independent operator with such a permit in China. That allows it to buy the cargoes it wants so long as it uses an agent, or one of the country's handful state-designated traders, to clear them through customs, and pays a commission for the service...Dragon Aromatics is part of the Xianglu Dragon Group which owns synthetic fibre plants in Fujian province." (Reuters, "Dragon Aromatics buys Iran condensate for trial at deep discount-trade" 11/13/12)

"So despite concerns over regulation and reputation, that opportunity explains the caravan of container carriers that started resuming service to Iran back in January. The Iranian port at Bandar Abbas now welcomes ships from Evergreen, Hyundai, OOCL, Hanjin, “K” Line, KMTC, X-Press, Yang Ming, and many more..." (Global Trade, "Transportation/Logistics:Iran is Back Open for Business," 11/1/2016).

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"Taiwanese lines Evergreen and Yang Ming Marine said they had pulled out, while Singapore's Pacific International Lines has also cut ties along with two top South Korean shipping firms." (Reuters, "Chinese Firms Drop Iran as Latest U.S. Sanctions Bite," 07/01/2013)

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On June 23, 2011, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Tidewater Middle East Co. (“Tidewater”), Iran’s major port operator, because the IRGC owns it and uses it for illicit activities

including weapons shipments. (U.S. Department of the Treasury Press Center, “Treasury Sanctions Major Iranian Commercial Entities,” 6/23/11)  The EU followed with its own sanctions against Tidewater on January 23, 2012. (Official Journal or the European Union: Council Decision 2012/35/CFSP)

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Operates as a liner & feeder in Iranian ports.  (Ports and Maritime Organization: Shipping Lines which operating in Iranian Ports)

Uses Tidewater Middle East Co.’s private terminals in the Shahid Rajaee Port Complex. (Tidewater: Reflection of Tomorrow)

"Wan Hai Lines reportedly provides shipping services to Iran. In 2019, CalSTRS identified Wan Hai Lines as potentially having ties to Iran and began the review process. The engagement has been delayed by shutdowns related to the COVID19 pandemic. Accordingly, CalSTRS maintained an “Under Review” status in 2020."

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The Ports & Maritime Organization lists WHL as operating in Iranian ports.

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“China's Wan Hai shipping company announced its readiness to restart its activities in Iran's Shahid Rajaee port. A high-ranking delegation from the company has travelled to the port to discuss possible ways of cooperation with Iranian officials, Iran's IRIB News Agency reported on May 24. The company is reportedly ready to operate ships with capacity to carry 6,000 containers…Deputy director of Hormozagan province's Ports and Maritime Organization, Mojtaba Khoshniat, said that the port is becoming a key port in the region.” (Trend, “Chinese shipping firm ready to resume activities at Iran’s Shahid Rajaee port,” 5/24/14)

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“The Taiwanese shipping line Wan Hai berthed at Iran's Shahid Rajaee Port as EU sanctions against the country's shipping industry have been eased, the Fars news agency reported on July 22. Wan Hai container with 6,000 TEU capacity berthed at Shahid Rajaee Port in the southern province of Hormozgan neighboring the Persian Gulf on July 22. Before the easing of sanctions, ships had to unload cargoes at ports in Turkey, the UAE, Georgia, and Oman, and then the cargoes were transported to Iran. Direct shipment through Shahid Rajaee Port will decrease costs $40,000-100,000 per ton of cargo. Other ships from India, China, and South Korea are also scheduled to berth at Shahid Rajaee Port in the future, the IRNA news agency quoted Ali Jahandideh, the deputy director of the Ports and Maritime Organization of Iran as saying on July 21.” (Trend, "Taiwanese shipping line berths at Iran's Shahid Rajee Port as sanctions eased," 7/22/14)

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“China's Wan Hai shipping company announced its readiness to restart its activities in Iran's Shahid Rajaee port. A high-ranking delegation from the company has travelled to the port to discuss possible ways of cooperation with Iranian officials, Iran's IRIB News Agency reported on May 24. The company is reportedly ready to operate ships with capacity to carry 6,000 containers…Deputy director of Hormozagan province's Ports and Maritime Organization, Mojtaba Khoshniat, said that the port is becoming a key port in the region.” (Trend, “Chinese shipping firm ready to resume activities at Iran’s Shahid Rajaee port,” 5/24/14)

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"A source at Hong Kong's Wah Hai Lines said it would no longer send its vessels to Iran." (Reuters, "Iran faces fresh trade heat as more shipping firms exit," 5/7/2013)

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Operates as a liner in Iranian ports.  (Ports and Maritime Organization: Shipping Lines which operating in Iranian Ports)

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Listed by the Iranian Ports and Maritime Organization as doing business with the Iranian Bar va bahre Iran.  (Ports & Maritime Organization: Companies Affairs Department: Liners)

"CPC Corp., Taiwan’s state-run refiner, plans to stop importing oil from the Persian Gulf nation in July because of U.S.-led sanctions, company President Lin Maw-wen said March 26." (Bloomberg, "Taiwan’s Oil Imports From Iran Surge Following Halt in February," 5/16/2012)
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"Some processors, including Japan’s Idemitsu Kosan Co. and Taiwan’s CPC Corp., have cut the amount they buy from Iran. CPC, Taiwan’s largest refiner, has reduced its imports to about 4.7 percent of total purchases last year from 11 percent in 2010, Lin Maw-Wen, the state-run refiner’s president, said by phone today." (Businessweek, "Asian Refiners Seek Iran Oil Alternatives on Disruption Threat," 1/6/2012)

Lists Iranland Services Shipping Agency as a global agent in Tehran and Bandar Abbas.

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"Now, other companies operating at Iranian ports are in the crosshairs, including Evergreen Marine (Taiwan), Pacific International Lines (Singapore), Regional Container Lines (Thailand), Maersk (Denmark), Ignazio Messina (Italy), and Hyundai (Korea)." (June 26, 2017)

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"So despite concerns over regulation and reputation, that opportunity explains the caravan of container carriers that started resuming service to Iran back in January. The Iranian port at Bandar Abbas now welcomes ships from Evergreen, Hyundai, OOCL, Hanjin, “K” Line, KMTC, X-Press, Yang Ming, and many more..." (Global Trade, "Transportation/Logistics:Iran is Back Open for Business," 11/1/2016).

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“Fourteen international shipping lines have returned to Iranian ports following the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (the formal name of the nuclear deal signed by Iran with the West), the deputy head of Ports and Marine Organization of Iran said. Mediterranean Shipping Company, the world’s second-largest shipping line in terms of container vessel capacity, and Evergreen Line are among the top shipping lines engaged in economic interactions with Iranian ports,” he said.(Financial Tribune, "Int'l Shipping Lines Back to Iran," 9/27/2016).

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"Taiwanese lines Evergreen and Yang Ming Marine said they had pulled out, while Singapore's Pacific International Lines has also cut ties along with two top South Korean shipping firms." (Reuters, "Chinese Firms Drop Iran as Latest U.S. Sanctions Bite," 07/01/2013)

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On June 23, 2011, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Tidewater Middle East Co. (“Tidewater”), Iran’s major port operator, because the IRGC owns it and uses it for illicit activities including weapons shipments. (U.S. Department of the Treasury Press Center, “Treasury Sanctions Major Iranian Commercial Entities,” 6/23/11)  The EU followed with its own sanctions against Tidewater on January 23, 2012. (Official Journal or the European Union: Council Decision 2012/35/CFSP)
 

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Listed by the Iranian Ports and Maritime Organization as doing business with the Iranian Khadamat Saheli iran.  (Ports & Maritime Organization: Companies Affairs Department: Liners)

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Operates as a liner in Iranian ports.  (Ports and Maritime Organization: Shipping Lines which operating in Iranian Ports)

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Uses Tidewater Middle East Co.’s private terminals in the Shahid Rajaee Port Complex. (Tidewater: Reflection of Tomorrow)

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Evergreen has an American subsidiary called Evergreen Shipping Agency Co.

Gigabyte is a Taiwanese computer hardware manufacturer, specializing in motherboards. “Our reputation as a pioneer in motherboard innovation has allowed us to diversify our product range to include graphics cards, notebooks, desktop PCs, PC components, cellular phones, server and datacenter solutions, and more” (Company website).

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Avajang, an Iranian IT distributor, features the Gigabyte logo on its homepage, and lists several news articles on Gigabyte motherboards throughout the page. (Avajang website)

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Gigabyte lists Avajang as one of its Middle East distributors. (Company website)

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ITP.net describes Gigabyte market activities in Iran and the Middle East: “Golden Systems acts as Gigabyte’s sole distributor for the UAE and Iran, while the vendor has multiple partnerships for other Middle East markets. Gigabyte enjoys high market share in Iran and is looking to replicate that success in both Saudi Arabia and Egypt” (ITP.net, "Gigabyte plans regional base", 10/19/04).

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Gigabyte has its own page through Iran ICT news, featuring news on its products and Gigabyte’s place in the Iranian market. (Gigabyte Iran ICT News website)

BenQ has its own Iran website.

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According to its website, “BenQ Corporation, a leading provider of networked digital lifestyle devices, is a multi-faceted company with strengths in product design, visual display, mobile communication and network convergence technologies. BenQ offers unrivalled breadth and depth of products and integrating technologies across platforms through the brand promise of "Enjoyment Matters”, including projectors, LCD displays, laptop PCs, Netbooks, All-on-One PCs, LCD TVs, digital cameras, communication products and computing peripherals. 2008 revenues for BenQ Corporation exceeded US$1.54 billion” (Company Website).

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According to Business Monitor International, BenQ is a leading electronics manufacturer in the region: “Consumer electronics giant BenQ, for example, employs Iran Nara to carry out semi-knocked down (SKD) assembly of its monitors in Iran, while partnering with Farzanegan to distribute products not subject to high customs duties, such as notebooks, cameras and projectors.” (Business Monitor International, "Iran Q1 2010 Market Overview Article)," 12/14/2009).

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“BenQ has teamed up with local partner Irannara to accelerate sales of its LCD monitors in Iran as it attempts to wrest market share away from LG. An SKD LCD manufacturing facility, which is wholly-owned and operated by Irannara, has been launched in Iran with an initial production capacity of 1,000 17” BenQ-branded LCD monitors per day” (ITP.net, “Irannara starts LCD production in Iran for BenQ,”  2/12/2005).

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BenQ is featured repeatedly on the Iran website Iranian ICT News, and mentioned in an article on top brands in the digital market (Iranian ICT News Website).

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BenQ representatives explicitly express the company’s interest in Iran: “BenQ is setting its sights on a larger slice of the Iranian market. The company is predicting that over 800,000 new PCs will be sold in Iran this year, and through stronger ties with local PC manufacturers, the components manufacturer aims to take a bigger share of that total.”

“BenQ represents all that is possible when IT products are designed with users in mind,” said Robert Dung, managing director, BenQ Middle East. “BenQ aims to be the leader in the region’s consumer electronics market within five years, by offering high-value, low-cost technology to Middle East buyers. Meeting demand for new quality products in Iran is one of the many ways we’re achieving that” (Arabianbusiness.com, “BenQ looks to Iranian market to grow re-export business,” 1/21/03).