Iran sees 80% export surge to Africa as trade hits $2b: Chamber head
By Sadeq Dehqan
Staff writer
Iran’s trade with African countries, including unofficial exchanges, has reached $2 billion, most of it Iranian exports, said Masoud Barahman, head of the Iran-Africa Joint Chamber of Commerce.
In an interview with Iran Daily, Barahman said that in the first eight months of the current Iranian year — started on March 21 — Iran’s exports to Africa rose by nearly 80% compared to the same period last year. Official annual exports to the continent now stand at around $1 billion.
“The upward trend in economic and trade cooperation began during [former] president Ebrahim Raisi’s government and has continued under [his successor] President Masoud Pezeshkian, who took office in July 2024,” Barahman said. “We have witnessed a major leap in exports to Africa during this period.”
He described Africa as a “vast and diverse market” with immense untapped potential for exporting goods. “The continent’s population of 1.3 billion offers an exceptional market for Iranian products,” he added.
Barahman projected that if Iran pursued a strategic and targeted export policy toward Africa, bilateral trade could reach $4 billion within two years.
According to the businessman, Iran maintains commercial relations with most African nations, with Kenya, Ghana, South Africa, Somalia, and Tanzania serving as key export destinations.
Amid rising population growth, urbanization, and increasing consumerism across Africa, demand for food products is surging, he said. However, given the continent’s lack of uniform cultural and economic characteristics — and the significant variation in local dietary preferences — Iranian traders and producers must tailor their export strategies accordingly, he suggested. “They should carefully account for regional tastes, culinary habits, and economic conditions when seeking to meet Africa’s import needs.”
Africa’s economic potential
Barahman highlighted Africa’s status as one of the world’s richest regions in natural resources, holding 30% of global mineral reserves, 65% of the world’s diamonds, and 60% of its gold — much of which remains undeveloped.
He pointed to strong opportunities for Iran to export engineering and technical services, noting the low level of industrial technology and machinery across many African countries. “African nations welcome Iranian expertise and technical know-how,” he said.
While 80% of Africans work in agriculture, the continent lacks advanced agro-processing capabilities. “Iranian experts and investors can play a major role in this sector,” Barahman added.
He also suggested repurposing Iran’s idle or underutilized industrial capacity — including second-hand machinery from domestic industrial towns — for export to Africa. “Many of our industrial zones are not operating at full capacity, and this surplus equipment can meet African demand.”
Despite such opportunities, Barahman acknowledged that many Iranian businesspeople remain unfamiliar with African markets, often limiting their perception of cooperation to agriculture alone. In reality, he said, Africa offers vast potential in construction, mining, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, energy, textiles, and small-scale industries.
“The continent needs about 100 million housing units,” he noted. “Iran possesses all the necessary elements—investors, contractors, and building materials — to participate in residential construction projects across Africa.”
Role of joint chamber of commerce
To bridge the stated knowledge gap, the Iran-Africa Joint Chamber of Commerce has prioritized close collaboration with Iran’s Chamber of Cooperatives to expand joint exports and investments. The chamber is also active in Iran’s bilateral commissions with African countries and is working to create conditions conducive to industrial and commercial investment.
Additional initiatives include collecting and disseminating information on African trade regulations, customs procedures, and industrial laws to Iranian businesses; organizing trade fairs with targeted subsidies and facilitation through coordination with Iranian and African authorities; promoting reciprocal business delegations; and hosting seminars, conferences, and workshops to advance trade, economic ties, and technology transfer between Iran and Africa.