Officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Middle Eastern country is sometimes referred to as Persia.
Given Iran’s population of 83 million people, its total $41.2 billion in 2018 imports translates to roughly $500 in yearly product demand from every person in the Middle Eastern country.
Iran’s top suppliers accounting for about three-quarters (76.1%) of its international purchases were: China (24.9%), United Arab Emirates (13.8%), India (6.4%), Turkey (6.3%), Germany (5.9%), Switzerland (5.1%), South Korea (5%), Russia (3.3%), Italy (2.8%) then the United Kingdom (2.6%).
From a continental perspective, close to two-thirds (65.4%) of Iran’s total imports by value in 2018 were purchased from Asian countries. European trade partners supplied 31.3% of import purchases. Smaller percentages came from Latin America (1.9%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, North America (0.5%), Oceania (0.4%) Australia and New Zealand only, then Africa (0.3%).
Iran’s Top 10 Imports
Top 10
The following product groups represent the highest dollar value in Iran’s import purchases during 2017. Also shown is the percentage share each product category represents in terms of overall imports into Iran.
- Machinery including computers: US$7.7 billion (18.6% of total imports)
- Cereals: $4.4 billion (10.5%)
- Electrical machinery, equipment: $3.7 billion (8.9%)
- Pharmaceuticals: $1.6 billion (3.8%)
- Vehicles: $1.5 billion (3.7%)
- Oil seeds: $1.5 billion (3.7%)
- Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $1.4 billion (3.4%)
- Organic chemicals: $1.4 billion (3.4%)
- Plastics, plastic articles: $1.3 billion (3.1%)
- Iron, steel: $1.2 billion (2.9%)
By value, Iran’s top 10 imports accounted for 62.1% of the overall value of its product purchases from other countries.
Imported cereals generated the fastest-growing increase in cost among Iran’s top 10 import categories, up 27.7% from 2017 to 2018 propelled by higher purchases of corn, rice and barley.
In second place for improving import purchases were oil seeds, up 2.8%. Close behind came Iranian imports of organic chemicals delivering the third-fastest gain at 2.6%.
Leading the declining product categories year over year among Iran’s top 10 imports were vehicles (down -53.5%) and iron or steel (down -42.1%).
Also, see the section Searchable List of Iran’s Most Valuable Import Products further down near the bottom of this article.
Machinery
In 2018, Iranian importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of machinery including computers.
- Temperature-change machines: US$742.5 million (up 14.6% from 2017)
- Air or vacuum pumps: $613.7 million (up 17%)
- Miscellaneous machinery: $457.4 million (up 0.3%)
- Nuclear reactors, fuel elements: $386.1 million (up 1932.9%)
- Sort/screen/washing machinery: $317.5 million (down -15%)
- Computers, optical readers: $314.9 million (down -14.9%)
- Steam/vapor turbines: $306.1 million (up 8.8%)
- Centrifuges, filters and purifiers: $223.2 million (up 11.1%)
- Liquid pumps and elevators: $223 million (down -18.6%)
- Dishwashing, clean/dry/fill machines: $214.7 million (down -30.4%)
Among these import subcategories, Iran’s purchases of nuclear reactors and fuel elements (up 1,933%), air or vacuum pumps (up 17%) then temperature-change machines (up 14.6%) grew at the fastest pace from 2017 to 2018.
These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported machinery including computers among Iranian businesses and consumers.
Cereals
In 2018, Iranian importers spent the most on the following subcategories of cereals.
- Corn: US$2.1 billion (up 28.8% from 2017)
- Rice: $1.6 billion (up 34.1%)
- Barley: $602.8 million (up 16.2%)
- Buckwheat, millet, canary seed: $2.7 million (down -76.6%)
- Oats: $572,000 (up 40.2%)
- Wheat: $253,000 (down -98.8%)
Among these import subcategories, Iran’s purchases of oats (up 40.2%), rice (up 34.1%) then corn (up 28.8%) grew at the fastest pace from 2017 to 2018.
These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of cereals-related imports among Iranian businesses and consumers.
Electronics
In 2018, Iranian importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of electronics-related goods.
- Phone system devices including smartphones: US$770.2 million (down -43.5% from 2017)
- Carbon electrodes/brushes, lamp or battery carbons: $654.9 million (up 195.6%)
- Electric generating sets, converters: $334.3 million (up 16.3%)
- TV/radio/radar device parts: $255.3 million (down -56.4%)
- Electric motors, generators: $123.5 million (down -35.6%)
- Solar power diodes/semi-conductors: $116.7 million (down -1.2%)
- Electrical converters/power units: $99.9 million (down -22.9%)
- Lower-voltage switches, fuses: $98.4 million (down -35.3%)
- Filament/discharge lamps: $86.7 million (down -47.8%)
- Electrical/optical circuit boards, panels: $80.9 million (down -27%)
Only two among these import subcategories grew in cost from 2017 to 2018. Imports of carbon electrodes and brushes for lamps or batteries rose 195.6%, ahead of electric generating sets and converters via the latter category’s 16.3% appreciation year over year.
These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of electronics-related imports among Iranian businesses and consumers.
Pharma
In 2018, Iranian importers spent the most on the following subcategories of pharmaceuticals.
- Medication mixes in dosage: US$1.1 billion (down -1.7% from 2017)
- Blood fractions (including antisera): $374.4 million (up 10.2%)
- Sutures, special pharmaceutical goods: $53 million (down -7.2%)
- Packaged dressings: $16.5 million (down -9.1%)
- Medication mixes not in dosage: $16.5 million (down -2.4%)
- Dried organs, heparin: $1.8 million (down -41.7%)
Among these import subcategories, the only increase from 2017 to 2018 were Iran’s purchases of blood fractions including antisera thanks to its 10.2% acceleration.
Searchable List of Iran’s Most Valuable Import Products
At the more granular four-digit HTS code level, the top products imported into Iran are cars followed by corn, mobile phones, rice, drugs and medicines, soya beans then automotive parts or accessories.
The following searchable table displays 200 of Iran’s most in-demand imported goods during 2018. Shown beside each product label is its total import value then the percentage increase or decrease since 2017.
| Rank | Iran's Import Product | 2018 Value (US$) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Corn | $2.1 billion | +28.8% |
| 2 | Rice | $1.6 billion | +34.1% |
| 3 | Soya beans | $1.2 billion | +23.1% |
| 4 | Medication mixes in dosage | $1.1 billion | -1.7% |
| 5 | Phone system devices including smartphones | $770.2 million | -43.5% |
| 6 | Temperature-change machines | $742.5 million | +14.6% |
| 7 | Automobile parts/accessories | $690.4 million | -23.8% |
| 8 | Carbon electrodes/brushes, lamp/battery carbons | $654.9 million | +195.6% |
| 9 | Soya-bean oil-cake, other solid residues | $651.2 million | +29.4% |
| 10 | Air or vacuum pumps | $613.7 million | +17% |
| 11 | Barley | $602.8 million | +16.2% |
| 12 | Electro-medical equip (e.g. xrays) | $556.8 million | -17.5% |
| 13 | Sun/safflower/cotton-seed oil | $521.9 million | +18.8% |
| 14 | Frozen beef | $478.7 million | -14.9% |
| 15 | Miscellaneous machinery | $457.4 million | +0.3% |
| 16 | Cars | $439 million | -76.1% |
| 17 | Nuclear reactors, fuel elements | $386.1 million | +1932.9% |
| 18 | Blood fractions (including antisera) | $374.4 million | +10.2% |
| 19 | Bananas, plantains | $355.2 million | -34.8% |
| 20 | Electric generating sets, converters | $334.3 million | +16.3% |
| 21 | Rubber tires (new) | $319.4 million | -25.3% |
| 22 | Sort/screen/washing machinery | $317.5 million | -15% |
| 23 | Computers, optical readers | $314.9 million | -14.9% |
| 24 | Steam/vapor turbines | $306.1 million | +8.8% |
| 25 | Tea (including flavored) | $292.4 million | +3.4% |
| 26 | Palm oil | $290.3 million | -20.9% |
| 27 | Sheep or goat meat | $284.3 million | +121.1% |
| 28 | Uncoated paper for writing/printing | $281.2 million | -4.8% |
| 29 | TV/radio/radar device parts | $255.3 million | -56.4% |
| 30 | Wood fiberboard | $240.9 million | -46.2% |
| 31 | Iron ferroalloys | $237.2 million | -27.7% |
| 32 | Cellulose fiber paper | $233.1 million | -4.2% |
| 33 | Orthopedic appliances | $229.2 million | -5.4% |
| 34 | Dried shelled vegetables | $223.4 million | -38.7% |
| 35 | Centrifuges, filters and purifiers | $223.2 million | +11.1% |
| 36 | Liquid pumps and elevators | $223 million | -18.6% |
| 37 | Trucks | $216.8 million | +3.6% |
| 38 | Dishwashing, clean/dry/fill machines | $214.7 million | -30.4% |
| 39 | Butter, other milk fats/oils | $212.4 million | +8.1% |
| 40 | Chemical woodpulp (non-dissolving) | $212.2 million | +16.1% |
| 41 | Iron or steel tubes, pipes | $211 million | -28.6% |
| 42 | Rubber/plastic article making machines | $210 million | -21.3% |
| 43 | Turbo-jets | $207.3 million | -24.4% |
| 44 | Other food preparations | $202.4 million | -19.4% |
| 45 | Polyacetal/ether/carbonates | $202.2 million | -19% |
| 46 | Amino-resins | $196.3 million | -21.4% |
| 47 | Packaged insecticides/fungicides/herbicides | $195.6 million | -9.6% |
| 48 | Flat-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products (plated/coated) | $195.2 million | -31.2% |
| 49 | Aluminum oxide/hydroxide | $188.1 million | -24.9% |
| 50 | Taps, valves, similar appliances | $185.5 million | -13.3% |
| 51 | Flat-rolled other alloy steel products | $182.7 million | -18% |
| 52 | Pipe/chewing/snuff tobaccos | $180.9 million | +84.5% |
| 53 | Piston engines | $176.9 million | -15.7% |
| 54 | Air conditioners | $176.9 million | -46.1% |
| 55 | Coated paper | $170.4 million | -38% |
| 56 | Anti-knock/oxidation/gum inhibitors | $169.7 million | +17.5% |
| 57 | Metal-casting machines | $169 million | -3.3% |
| 58 | Uncombed synthetic staple fibers | $167.6 million | -30.1% |
| 59 | Heavy machinery (bulldozers, excavators, road rollers) | $165.5 million | -29.3% |
| 60 | Piston engine parts | $156.8 million | -45.2% |
| 61 | Flat-rolled stainless steel items | $151.7 million | -25.8% |
| 62 | Processed petroleum oils | $148.5 million | +4.6% |
| 63 | Cotton (uncarded, uncombed) | $137.8 million | -1.7% |
| 64 | Plastic plates, sheets, film, tape, strips | $137.3 million | -33.1% |
| 65 | Cold-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products | $137.1 million | -58% |
| 66 | Printing machinery | $127.1 million | -24.2% |
| 67 | X-ray equipment | $127.1 million | -23.9% |
| 68 | Coke, semi-coke | $126.8 million | +310.5% |
| 69 | Sawn wood | $125.9 million | -17.3% |
| 70 | Scents used for beverage or industrial manufacturing | $124.9 million | -14.5% |
| 71 | Refrigerators, freezers | $124.8 million | -54% |
| 72 | Electric motors, generators | $123.5 million | -35.6% |
| 73 | Natural rubber | $122.6 million | -14.3% |
| 74 | Soya-bean oil | $121.9 million | -46.6% |
| 75 | Regulate/control instruments | $120.8 million | -27% |
| 76 | Solar power diodes/semi-conductors | $116.7 million | -1.2% |
| 77 | Computer parts, accessories | $116.6 million | +66.2% |
| 78 | Hot-rolled iron or non-alloy steel products | $115.4 million | -74.6% |
| 79 | Ethylene polymers | $113.3 million | -38.3% |
| 80 | Antibiotics | $113.2 million | -8% |
| 81 | Textile fiber work machines | $110.5 million | -16.2% |
| 82 | Acrylic polymers | $110.2 million | +8.5% |
| 83 | Provitamins, vitamins | $109.6 million | +4.3% |
| 84 | Industrial preparation machinery | $107.1 million | +25.1% |
| 85 | Synthetic filament tow | $106.9 million | +47% |
| 86 | Sowing seeds, fruits, spores | $105.6 million | -29.6% |
| 87 | Sugar (cane or beet) | $102.7 million | -75.3% |
| 88 | Other nitrogen compounds | $99.9 million | -25.5% |
| 89 | Electrical converters/power units | $99.9 million | -22.9% |
| 90 | Heterocyclics, nucleic acids | $98.5 million | +45.3% |
| 91 | Lower-voltage switches, fuses | $98.4 million | -35.3% |
| 92 | Synthetic filament yarn | $97.1 million | -26% |
| 93 | Other coloring matter, luminophores | $96.4 million | -13.3% |
| 94 | Oil seeds | $94.3 million | -22.5% |
| 95 | Moulding boxes/base | $92.5 million | -14.4% |
| 96 | Physical/chemical analysis tools | $92 million | -21.2% |
| 97 | Milking machines, other dairy machinery | $90.1 million | +18.3% |
| 98 | Synthetic rubber | $88.6 million | +0.4% |
| 99 | Aluminum plates, sheets, strips | $88 million | -15.4% |
| 100 | Other measuring/testing machines | $87 million | -12.2% |
| 101 | Filament/discharge lamps | $86.7 million | -47.8% |
| 102 | Beauty/makeup/skin care preparations | $86.6 million | -32.7% |
| 103 | Synthetic yarn woven fabrics | $86.5 million | -56.8% |
| 104 | Other organic compounds | $85.2 million | +100.8% |
| 105 | Industrial/laboratory non-electric furnaces, ovens | $84.9 million | -1.9% |
| 106 | Calculators, accounting/ticket machines, cash registers | $84.8 million | -31.8% |
| 107 | Synthetic organic coloring | $84.4 million | -17.6% |
| 108 | Cyclic hydrocarbons | $84 million | -15.9% |
| 109 | Fertilizer mixes | $83.8 million | +7.2% |
| 110 | Miscellaneous plastic items | $81.3 million | -35.6% |
| 111 | Electrical/optical circuit boards, panels | $80.9 million | -27% |
| 112 | Organo-sulphur compounds | $80.7 million | +6.6% |
| 113 | Initiators/accelerators, catalytic preps | $79.6 million | -1.8% |
| 114 | Ball, roller bearings | $79.5 million | -12.8% |
| 115 | Propylene/olefin polymers | $79.2 million | -38.9% |
| 116 | Industrial/laboratory electric furnaces, ovens | $78 million | +41.6% |
| 117 | Pulp or paper-making machinery | $77.8 million | -45.2% |
| 118 | Radar, radio communication items | $73.8 million | +34.8% |
| 119 | Coal, solid fuels made from coal | $73.8 million | -12.6% |
| 120 | Lifting/loading machinery | $73.3 million | -14.2% |
| 121 | Base metal mountings, fittings | $72.2 million | -27.3% |
| 122 | Industrial fatty acids and alcohols | $71.9 million | -5.7% |
| 123 | Insulated wire/cable | $71.6 million | -23.7% |
| 124 | Other diagnostic/lab reagents | $70 million | +14.7% |
| 125 | Acyclic alcohols | $69 million | +1.7% |
| 126 | Weaving machines (loom) | $68.7 million | -66.6% |
| 127 | Plastic plates, sheets, film, tape, strips | $67.9 million | -35.6% |
| 128 | Transmission shafts, gears, clutches | $67.4 million | -29.4% |
| 129 | Amino-compounds (oxygen) | $67.1 million | +20.9% |
| 130 | Rubber accelerators, plasticizers | $67.1 million | -1.7% |
| 131 | Uncombed artificial staple fibers | $66.6 million | +40.2% |
| 132 | Motorcycle parts/accessories | $66.1 million | -46.4% |
| 133 | Wine/cider/fruit juices machinery | $65.3 million | +2616.8% |
| 134 | Sunflower seeds | $65 million | -52.3% |
| 135 | Metal-rolling mills | $63.4 million | -27% |
| 136 | Spray/dispersing mechanical appliances | $62.9 million | +1.4% |
| 137 | Printed circuits | $61.9 million | -31.4% |
| 138 | Aluminum foil (thin) | $61.6 million | -15.9% |
| 139 | Washing machines | $61.5 million | -59% |
| 140 | Electric storage batteries | $61.4 million | -24.6% |
| 141 | Saturated acyclic mono acids | $61.3 million | -5.1% |
| 142 | Electric circuit parts, fuses, switches | $61 million | -7.6% |
| 143 | Phosphatic fertilizers | $58 million | -49.7% |
| 144 | Lamps, lighting, illuminated signs | $58 million | -52.1% |
| 145 | Machinery parts | $55.3 million | -39.7% |
| 146 | TV receiver/transmit/digital cameras | $53.1 million | -34.7% |
| 147 | Move/grade/scrape/boring machinery | $53.1 million | +53.6% |
| 148 | Sutures, special pharmaceutical goods | $53 million | -7.2% |
| 149 | Iron or steel pipe fittings | $52.7 million | -36.9% |
| 150 | Seats (excluding barber/dentist chairs) | $52.5 million | +22.1% |
| 151 | Integrated circuits/microassemblies | $52 million | -34.6% |
| 152 | Potassic fertilizers | $51.9 million | -19.5% |
| 153 | Glass fibers | $51.9 million | -18.8% |
| 154 | Miscellaneous animal feed preparations | $50.9 million | -42.5% |
| 155 | Hormones, miscellaneous steroids | $49.7 million | +23.3% |
| 156 | Pulley tackle, hoists, winches | $49.5 million | -16.7% |
| 157 | Iron or non-alloy steel angles, shapes, sections | $49.1 million | +0% |
| 158 | Textile fabrics with plastics | $49.1 million | -53.5% |
| 159 | Chemical industry products/residuals | $48.1 million | -28.5% |
| 160 | Print/write/draw inks | $47.9 million | -0.2% |
| 161 | Unrecorded sound media | $47.6 million | -28% |
| 162 | Aluminum (unwrought) | $47.4 million | -37% |
| 163 | Animal/vegetable hydrogenated fats, oils | $47 million | -33.2% |
| 164 | Natural magnesite, fused magnesia | $46.7 million | +86.5% |
| 165 | Railway or tram locomotives, rolling stock | $45.8 million | -81.5% |
| 166 | Electric ignition/start equipment | $45.7 million | -39.8% |
| 167 | Photographic plates/film, unexposed | $45.6 million | -9.2% |
| 168 | Refractory ceramic bricks, blocks, tiles | $45.6 million | +62.8% |
| 169 | Other organic cleaning preparations | $45 million | -36.4% |
| 170 | Cocoa powder (no added sugar) | $45 million | +5.4% |
| 171 | Prepared adhesives, glues | $44.3 million | -35.4% |
| 172 | Engines (diesel) | $42.5 million | -6.2% |
| 173 | Polyamides | $42.5 million | -27.7% |
| 174 | Iron and steel screws, bolts, nuts, washers | $42.3 million | -36.6% |
| 175 | Petroleum oil residues | $42.3 million | -21.7% |
| 176 | Unsaturated acyclic mono acids | $42 million | -7.1% |
| 177 | Harvest/threshing machinery | $41.1 million | -44.2% |
| 178 | Electric water heaters, hair dryers | $41 million | -61.5% |
| 179 | Interchangeable hand/machine tools | $40.8 million | -39.5% |
| 180 | Machines to assemble lighting goods | $40.1 million | -34.1% |
| 181 | Paper containers, cellulose wadding | $39.9 million | -23.8% |
| 182 | Impregnated/coated textile fabrics | $39.7 million | -39.8% |
| 183 | Millstones, grindstones, grinding wheels | $39.7 million | -31.9% |
| 184 | Auxiliary machines | $39.4 million | +23.8% |
| 185 | Whole fish (frozen) | $38.8 million | -48.9% |
| 186 | Lead (unwrought) | $38.7 million | +4% |
| 187 | Phosphates, polyphosphates | $38.2 million | -7.7% |
| 188 | Liquid/gas checking instruments | $38.2 million | -12.3% |
| 189 | Vinyl chloride polymers | $38.1 million | -38.9% |
| 190 | Paint/varnish non-aqueous solution | $37.8 million | -20.5% |
| 191 | Amine-function compounds | $37.5 million | -21.8% |
| 192 | Primary batteries/cells | $37.2 million | -8% |
| 193 | Mufflers, nozzles, plugs, tubes, pipes | $36.7 million | -18.6% |
| 194 | Concentrated/sweetened milk, cream | $36.4 million | -19.1% |
| 195 | Paper wall coverings, wallpaper | $36.1 million | -53.8% |
| 196 | Plastic packing goods, lids, caps | $36.1 million | -25.5% |
| 197 | Machine-tool for metal | $35.7 million | -38.7% |
| 198 | Trailers | $35.7 million | -44.5% |
| 199 | Microphones/headphones/amps | $35.4 million | -54.6% |
| 200 | Uncoated kraft paper | $35.4 million | -19.6% |
These 200 imported goods were worth a subtotal of US$33.2 billion or about four-fifths (80.5%) by value for all products imported into Iran during 2018.
See also Iran’s Top 10 Exports, China’s Top 10 Exports and Top Middle Eastern Export Countries
Research Sources:
International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database (GDP based on Purchasing Power Parity). Accessed on July 17, 2019
The World Factbook, Country Profiles, Central Intelligence Agency. Accessed on October 27, 2018
Trade Map, International Trade Centre, www.intracen.org/marketanalysis. Accessed on July 17, 2019
Wikipedia, Iran. Accessed on October 27, 2018