China, UAE Lead Iran’s External Trade Links

What We’re Showing

This graphic maps Iran’s top 10 trading partners by total trade value, combining exports and imports for 2024. Countries are shown by their trade volumes in dollar terms, while a separate ranking highlights each partner’s share of Iran’s overall trade. Together, the visuals show how Iran’s trade is distributed across a small group of dominant partners versus a long tail of smaller ones. The data is sourced from Trade Data Monitor, via the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Key Takeaways

• China is Iran’s largest trading partner, with total trade worth $32.4 billion, accounting for 26% of Iran’s total trade. It leads by a clear margin over all other partners.
• The UAE ranks second, with trade valued at $28.2 billion (22.6% share), underscoring its role as a major regional trading and transit hub for Iranian goods.
• Turkey and Iraq form the next tier of partners. Turkey records $17.3 billion in trade, while Iraq accounts for $12.3 billion, reflecting strong regional and cross-border economic ties.
• Trade drops sharply beyond the top four. The European Union accounts for $6.7 billion, while countries such as Pakistan, Russia, Afghanistan and Oman each contribute less than 3% of Iran’s total trade.

Overall, the data shows Iran’s trade is highly concentrated, with a handful of partners—led by China and the UAE—anchoring its external economic relationships.