Iran: Visió econòmica i política
Iran is a member of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), the second largest producer among its members and the fifth largest producer in the world. The share of foreign trade in the country's GDP is over 51.3% (World Bank, latest available data of 2020). Exports are spearheaded by crude oil and petroleum products (69%), whereas Machinery, nuclear reactors, boilers, cereal and electric and electronic equipments are among the main items of import.
Iran's main partners are China (21% of total exports), Iraq (21%), the United Arab Emirates (14%), Afghanistan (6.8%) and South Korea (5.9%). China is also the main supplier of goods to Iran (25% of total imports), followed by the United Arab Emirates (14%), India (6.5%), Turkey (6.3%) and Germany with 6% (Trading Economics, 2022).
The country has a structurally positive trade balance thanks to oil exports (69% of total exports); however, its scope is largely dependent on global oil prices. In 2020, merchandise exports for Iran was 53,543 million USD. Though Iran merchandise exports fluctuated substantially in recent years, it tended to increase in the past decade, ending at 53,543 million US dollars in 2020. China reported the first imports of Iranian crude oil in a year despite ongoing sanctions by the United States government, according to data released in January 2022. China brought in 260,312 tonnes of Iranian crude oil in December 2021, according to data from the General Administration of Chinese Customs, which last recorded Iranian oil inflows in December 2020 at 520,000 tonnes.
The government is aiming to diversify the country's exports, given that diversification of non-oil exports would lower the economy’s vulnerability.
Foreign Trade Values | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
Imports of Goods (million USD) | 49,499 | 49,353 | 41,828 | 38,757 | 48,978 |
Exports of Goods (million USD) | 92,764 | 103,422 | 65,718 | 53,543 | 71,646 |
Imports of Services (million USD) | 0 | 16,527 | 14,066 | 6,838 | 11,077 |
Exports of Services (million USD) | 0 | 9,596 | 9,949 | 4,482 | 5,767 |
Source: World Trade Organisation (WTO) ; Latest available data
Foreign Trade Indicators | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
Foreign Trade (in % of GDP) | 44.7 | 58.4 | 50.8 | 43.8 | 44.4 |
Imports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) | 6.8 | -26.3 | -32.5 | -29.7 | 24.1 |
Exports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) | 0.5 | -4.4 | -17.3 | -12.8 | 5.2 |
Imports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) | 22.0 | 28.2 | 27.3 | 24.4 | 21.5 |
Exports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) | 22.7 | 30.2 | 23.5 | 19.4 | 22.8 |
Source: World Bank ; Latest available data
Foreign Trade Forecasts | 2022 | 2023 (e) | 2024 (e) | 2025 (e) | 2026 (e) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Volume of exports of goods and services (Annual % change) | 13.7 | -4.4 | -8.4 | -4.1 | -0.8 |
Volume of imports of goods and services (Annual % change) | 6.5 | -12.8 | -11.0 | -12.9 | -13.4 |
Source: IMF, World Economic Outlook ; Latest available data
Note: (e) Estimated Data
Iran is the member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation (OEC) which includes nine other countries of Western and Central Asia (Turkey, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, and five Republics of Central Asia) But the OEC has not succeeded in liberalizing exchanges between its members and continues to be passive in this regard.
Since 2005, Iran is an observer member of the Shanghai Co-operation Organization (OCS) which includes China, Kazakhstan, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. The observer members include Mongolia, Iran, India and Pakistan. One of the goals of this organization is to facilitate co-operation between these States in the political, economic and commercial, scientific and technical, cultural and educational fields as well as in the fields of energy, transport, tourism and environment. The permanent members of the OCS account for 20% of the world oil reserves and 38 % of oil reserves.
Iran is in the process of negotiation to conclude a cooperation agreement with the European Union which has an economic dimension but for the moment these negotiations have stopped because of tensions related to the nuclear power file.
The country has signed a trade agreement with 21 other countries in the São Paulo Round of the Global System of Trade Preferences among Developing Countries (GSTP).
Main Customers (% of Exports) |
2018 |
China | 9.5% |
Iraq | 9.3% |
United Arab Emirates | 6.2% |
Afghanistan | 3.0% |
South Korea | 2.7% |
See More Countries | 69.3% |
Main Suppliers (% of Imports) |
2018 |
China | 24.9% |
United Arab Emirates | 13.8% |
India | 6.4% |
Türkiye | 6.3% |
Germany | 5.9% |
See More Countries | 42.7% |
Source: Comtrade, 2022. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.
Source: Comtrade, 2022. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.
To go further, check out our service Import Export Flows.
9.9 bn USD of services exported in 2017 | |
44.69% | |
Personal travelPersonal travel | 36.45% |
Business travelBusiness travel | 8.24% |
38.12% | |
8.95% | |
4.63% | |
1.22% | |
1.12% | |
0.59% | |
Telecommunications servicesTelecommunications services | 0.59% |
0.55% | |
0.14% |
17.3 bn USD of services imported in 2017 | |
65.43% | |
Personal travelPersonal travel | 54.51% |
Business travelBusiness travel | 10.92% |
16.54% | |
5.37% | |
4.40% | |
2.83% | |
1.95% | |
1.57% | |
0.94% | |
0.81% | |
Telecommunications servicesTelecommunications services | 0.81% |
0.14% |
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, 2023. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.
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Actualitzacions: January 2023