Iran’s exports to African countries rose sharply in the first nine months of the current Iranian year (March–December), underscoring a renewed push to expand trade ties with the continent.
According to the Trade Promotion Organization of Iran (TPO), Iran’s total trade with 39 African countries reached $940 million during the nine-month period, marking a 66% increase compared with the same period last year. The growth was driven mainly by higher exports, reflecting stronger commercial engagement between Iran and African markets.
Mohammadreza Safari, director general of the Africa Office at the TPO, attributed the expansion in trade partly to the implementation of government policies aimed at strengthening economic relations with Africa.
He said follow-up measures linked to decisions taken by the government’s Africa Headquarters, including the organization of the Iran–Africa Economic Cooperation Summit, have played a key role in boosting trade volumes.
Safari noted that preparatory steps for holding the next Iran–Africa economic summit are already underway, signaling the government’s intention to institutionalize trade dialogue and deepen long-term cooperation with African partners.
Highlighting the importance of a clear and coherent trade strategy toward Africa, Safari compared Iran’s approach with those of other major players on the continent. China, he said, has focused on foreign direct investment and large-scale infrastructure projects to expand its economic footprint in Africa.
Turkey, meanwhile, has emphasized private-sector entrepreneurship through infrastructure investment, industrial networking and support for business ecosystems.
Iran, Safari stressed, needs to pursue a tailored strategy based on complementary trade and targeted investment. Such an approach should aim to ensure both sustainable supply and stable exports of goods in which Iran has competitive capacity.
Africa has increasingly attracted attention from Iranian policymakers as a diversified export destination amid efforts to reduce reliance on traditional markets.
The latest figures suggest the continent is becoming a more important destination for Iranian exports, though sustaining this trend will require consistent policy support and stronger private-sector participation.
