IRICA: Foreign trade hit $5.8b last month, gold tops import list
The Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA) reported the value of the country’s non-oil foreign trade in the first Iranian month of Farvardin (began on March 20, 2025) at $5.798 billion, stating that gold in raw forms, valued at $583 million, topped the list of imported goods during this period.
Iran’s non-oil foreign trade in Farvardin totaled 10.756 million tons worth $5.798 billion, reflecting a 12% decline in weight and a 3% drop in value compared to the same period last year, IRNA reported.
The report added that 8.957 million tons worth $2.942 billion were allocated to exports, while 1.799 million tons valued at $2.856 billion were attributed to imports. Non-oil exports in the first month of the current year saw an 8.3% decrease in weight and an 8% decline in value, while imports recorded a 26.4% reduction in weight but a 2.3% rise in value.
The report noted that the average customs value per ton of exported goods in Farvardin this year stood at $328, marking a 0.47% increase year-on-year. The average customs value per ton of imported goods reached $1,587, up 39% compared to the same period last year.
Last month, 15% of the weight and 20.6% of the value of Iran’s total non-oil exports were attributed to petrochemical products.
$1b worth of goods
exported to China
China was the top destination for Iranian exports in Farvardin, receiving $997 million worth of goods, followed by Iraq ($401 million), United Arab Emirates ($395 million), Turkey ($189 million), Afghanistan ($143 million), Oman ($140 million), and Pakistan ($124 million).
IRICA said 80% of the weight and 81% of the value of Iran’s total non-oil exports were directed to the aforementioned seven countries.
UAE as largest import partner
The UAE was Iran’s largest import partner during the month, accounting for $859 million, followed by China ($768 million), Turkey ($538 million), Germany ($87 million), Netherlands ($75 million), India ($69 million), and Pakistan ($43 million).
According to IRICA, 83% of the weight and 85% of the value of Iran’s total imports during the period originated from the seven countries.