Iran sees potential for $1b in daily exports, trade chief says
Iran has the capacity to achieve $1 billion in daily exports by leveraging its natural resources, skilled workforce, and scientific and technological capabilities, the head of the Trade Promotion Organization of Iran said, citing the need to increase the value added of exported goods and remove trade barriers.
Mohammad Ali Dehqan Dehnavi made the remarks on Monday at a national conference of export associations in Tehran, saying the target would require planning and greater participation by business associations.
Iran’s non-oil exports reached $58 billion in 2024, the highest level recorded in previous years, he said, according to ISNA. The figure fell to $52 billion in 2025 despite the country’s economic potential, amid a series of events including an explosion at the southern Shahid Rajaee port, a 12-day Israeli war in June 2025, and a US-Israeli war that began in late February 2026.
Dehqan Dehnavi said around 75% of Iran’s trade passes through maritime routes, leaving a large share of the country’s trade exposed to disruptions along these routes.
Since late February, when a US-Israeli coalition launched a 40-day war, Iran has been operating under wartime conditions and facing a maritime blockade from the south. The blockade aims to reduce Iranian oil exports to zero and deplete government revenues. Iran has also been subject to decades of Western sanctions over its nuclear activities.
According to Dehqan Dehnavi, the weight of trade fell by around 30% to 35% during the six-month period under review, while the value of exports declined by about 20%. He attributed part of the drop to higher transportation costs, which have made exports of some goods economically unviable.
He added that the average value of Iran’s exported goods was around $300 to $400 per metric ton.