Iran’s Exports Reach $16.5b in First Four Months of Year

TEHRAN (Iran News) Mohsen Montazeri, Director General of Planning and Monitoring at the TPO, told IRNA that Iran exported 48.81 million tons of goods from March to July 2025. This marks a 1.5 percent increase in volume compared with the previous year. However, the export value of $16.55 billion represented a 5.5 percent decline in dollar terms.

Montazeri noted that the average price of exported goods stood at $339 per ton, a drop of seven percent from last year, reflecting both falling global commodity prices and competitive pressures in Iran’s key markets.

Overall non-oil trade — including exports and imports — reached 61.02 million tons, valued at $34.18 billion, during the same period. While trade volume rose marginally by 0.5 percent, the total value decreased by more than 10 percent.

Montazeri attributed the decline in value to global economic slowdowns, regional disruptions, and domestic policy shifts, particularly in foreign exchange management.

China remained Iran’s largest export market, purchasing $4.56 billion worth of goods and accounting for 27.6 percent of total exports. Iraq followed with $2.94 billion (17.8 percent share), while the United Arab Emirates ranked third at $2.12 billion (12.8 percent). Turkey and Afghanistan rounded out the top five destinations, with $1.67 billion (10.1 percent) and $709 million (4.3 percent), respectively.

Together, these five countries represented 72.5 percent of Iran’s total exports.

Montazeri also detailed the breakdown of exports by sector: petrochemicals and oil-based products led with 49 percent of total exports, mining and mineral industries contributed 25 percent, industrial goods 17 percent, and agricultural products around 9 percent.

On the import side, Iran purchased 12.21 million tons of goods worth $17.03 billion during the four-month period. Compared with last year, imports fell by 3 percent in volume and 14 percent in value.

The UAE was Iran’s largest supplier, accounting for $5.41 billion in imports, or 30.7 percent of the total. China followed closely at $4.59 billion (26 percent share), while Turkey supplied $2.6 billion (14.7 percent). India and Germany contributed $669 million (3.8 percent) and $628 million (3.6 percent), respectively. Altogether, these five countries provided nearly 79 percent of Iran’s imports.

The average price of imported goods was reported at $1,444 per ton — 11 percent lower than last year.

Imports were concentrated in intermediate goods, which made up 72 percent of the total, while consumer and capital goods each accounted for 14 percent. Notably, Iran also imported $1.07 billion worth of gold in the first four months of the year.

Montazeri reported that Iran maintained a positive trade balance of $5.8 billion with 81 countries during the period. However, trade deficits totaling $6.9 billion were recorded with 60 other countries, reflecting structural imbalances in Iran’s international commerce.

Despite the recent decline, officials highlighted broader achievements. Mohammad-Ali Dehghan Dehnavi, Deputy Minister of Industry, Mine, and Trade and head of the TPO, pointed to last year’s record non-oil exports of $58 billion — the highest in Iran’s history.

According to Dehnavi, the government has pursued a strategy of expanding free trade and preferential agreements, which has opened new opportunities, particularly with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). Since May 2025, Iran has implemented a major trade agreement with the EAEU, boosting exports to member states Russia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, and Kyrgyzstan. Trade with this bloc grew by 22 percent in the past year. “Iran’s Exports Reach ”

Officials acknowledged that the 5.5 percent drop in exports during the first four months of the current year was partly due to external shocks, including the temporary shutdown of Shahid Rajaei Port, regional instability marked by a 12-day conflict, and the global economic slowdown.

Dehnavi added that currency policies have also discouraged exporters, but expressed optimism that multilateral trade agreements and new partnerships — such as the recently signed free trade accord with Pakistan — could offset recent setbacks. If ratified, the Iran-Pakistan agreement could significantly expand the current $3 billion trade volume between the two neighbors, leveraging Pakistan’s 250 million-strong consumer market.

Iran’s trade officials emphasized that while short-term challenges persist, the government’s focus on diversifying export markets, reducing reliance on oil revenues, and deepening regional trade ties offers a path to stability. “Iran’s Exports Reach ”

The balance between declining trade values and rising volumes suggests that Iran’s exporters remain competitive in regional markets, but face pressure from falling prices and shifting global demand. How Tehran manages these challenges — particularly through trade diplomacy and currency reforms — will be key in determining whether Iran can sustain its record-setting trajectory in non-oil exports.