Charted: Iran’s Top Export Destinations
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Key Takeaways
- China is Iran’s largest export partner, receiving $14.6B worth of goods in 2024—over a quarter of Iran’s total exports.
- Neighboring countries Iraq, UAE, and Türkiye account for a combined $24.9B in exports, showing strong regional ties.
- New U.S. tariffs could impact these trade flows, adding pressure to Iran’s already strained economy under sanctions.
Iran’s international trade has long been shaped by geopolitical pressures and economic sanctions, limiting its reach to a narrow group of countries willing—or able—to do business. The latest data from the World Trade Organization’s Trade Data Monitor gives a snapshot of which nations are still major trading partners for Iran in 2024.
The visualization above, created by Aneesh Anand, ranks Iran’s top export destinations by goods value. Here’s the export data:
| Rank | Export Destination | Value of goods exported (USD billions, 2024) | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  China |
14.57 | Asia |
| 2 |  Iraq |
11.69 | Middle East |
| 3 |  UAE |
7.16 | Middle East |
| 4 |  Turkey |
6.09 | Middle East |
| 5 |  Afghanistan |
2.29 | Asia |
| 6 |  Pakistan |
2.27 | Asia |
| 7 |  India |
1.96 | Asia |
| 8 |  Oman |
1.56 | Middle East |
| 9 |  Russia |
1.05 | Europe |
| 10 |  Azerbaijan |
0.72 | Asia |
| — |  Rest of the world |
6.58 | Rest |
| — |  Global Total |
56.0 | World |
China alone accounts for more than $14.5 billion of Iran’s $56 billion in total exports—about 26% of the total. Iraq and the UAE follow closely, with Türkiye and Afghanistan rounding out the top five. Meanwhile, exports to Europe remain extremely limited, with Russia being the only European nation in the top 10.
Trade Centered on Neighbors and Asia
Iran’s export market is highly regional. Eight of its top 10 destinations are in Asia or the Middle East, reflecting both geographic proximity and limited global access due to sanctions. This includes smaller but geopolitically significant trade flows to Pakistan, India, and Azerbaijan.
Iran’s heavy economic reliance on oil shapes its export patterns and trade relationships. As we covered in Iran’s Oil Exports, China receives the lion’s share of Iran’s energy exports, despite U.S. sanctions and diplomatic tensions.
Impact of New U.S. Tariffs
In January 2026, the U.S. announced 25% tariffs on countries that continue significant trade with Iran. These new measures target key players like Iraq, the UAE, and Türkiye, countries that collectively import nearly half of Iran’s goods. The sanctions aim to further isolate Iran economically, but they could also strain U.S. relations with regional allies.
Meanwhile, Iran’s economy is under growing domestic pressure. The country faces a toxic mix of inflation, currency devaluation, and limited investment, making exports one of the few lifelines for hard currency.
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