Trade with Turkey rises 23% in seven months
Trade between Iran and Turkey reached $3.793 billion in the first seven months of 2026, up 23% from $3.087 billion in the same period last year, with most of the increase driven by a sharp rise in Turkey’s imports from Iran.
Turkey’s imports from Iran jumped 42% year on year to $1.954 billion from $1.377 billion, while Turkish exports to Iran rose by a more modest 7% to $1.839 billion, according to IRIB.
The increase in bilateral trade comes as the United States resumed its maritime blockade of Iranian ports in July 2026. Against this backdrop, the 23-percent growth in trade with Turkey suggests that land routes have helped offset part of the pressure on Iran’s maritime trade.
Turkey is Iran’s only western neighbor with a shared land border, with road and rail links between the two countries remaining operational.
Monthly data shows that bilateral trade gained further momentum in June and July. In June, trade between the two countries surged 73% to $691 million, coinciding with the height of the US maritime blockade.
Experts say land-based trade, given its limited infrastructure capacity, cannot fully replace Iran’s maritime trade. However, it can help ease some of the pressure by providing an alternative channel for cross-border commerce.
The recent growth also points to the Iranian economy’s adjustment to changing trade conditions. Experts say sustaining this trend will require investment in border infrastructure, streamlined customs procedures and greater diversification of the country’s export basket.