TEHRAN — Iran’s non‑oil exports to Africa doubled in the first half of the current Iranian calendar year, reaching about $675 million, an official from the Trade Promotion Organization (TPO) said, signalling a renewed push by Tehran to expand commercial links with the continent.
Mohammadreza Safari, acting head of the TPO’s Africa office, described the 100 percent year‑on‑year rise as evidence of growing Iranian engagement across Africa’s 1.4 billion‑people market and said the government is planning an Africa Summit for late 2026 to cement those ties. He told reporters the six‑month export figure represents roughly 80 percent of Iran’s total exports to Africa last year and raised hopes of the strongest performance in a decade by year‑end.
Officials are pitching Africa as a strategic alternative market amid sanctions and constrained international conditions. Safari urged Iranian businesses to follow the example of Asian exporters such as China and Turkey by combining market presence with joint production alongside African partners.
He suggested creative trade arrangements — including barter where appropriate — as practical workarounds for payments and finance challenges faced by some African partners.
Tehran is coordinating the push through an interministerial “Africa Headquarters” chaired at a high level and comprised of 13 ministries. Safari said the economic committee has created eight specialised working groups to tackle practical bottlenecks such as shipping, air links, credit lines and agricultural development, and that plans for the 2026 Africa Summit are already under way.
Iranian business leaders are prioritising technical and engineering services as a key export growth area. At an Iran–Africa Cooperation Forum on Technical and Engineering Services in October, industry representatives highlighted opportunities in water and sanitation projects, construction and project management across several African markets. Payam Bagheri of the Iran Chamber of Commerce said Iran’s experience in water management in arid and semi‑arid climates is a competitive advantage that could match African needs for infrastructure and recycling systems.
The October forum drew delegations from Mauritania, Algeria, Nigeria and Tanzania. Organisers said the event aimed to identify local partners, showcase real projects and create durable commercial links through B2B sessions and site visits. ICCIMA officials said a Joint Committee for Exporting Engineering Services has been formed to coordinate the sector’s push into foreign markets.
Trade officials and exporters warned, however, that structural obstacles still constrain deeper trade growth. High transport costs, patchy shipping routes, difficulties in moving funds, limited market intelligence and regional competition persist as barriers. Analysts note that many previous memoranda of understanding with African counterparts have stalled at the implementation stage because logistical and financial channels remain underdeveloped.
Despite those frictions, Iranian authorities point to recent diplomatic moves as building blocks for expanded commerce. During a September visit to Tunis, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi signed accords that include visa‑free travel for short stays, new direct flights, a joint economic commission and tourism cooperation — measures Tehran sees as gateways to broader North African and Sahelian markets.
Private‑sector figures emphasise the need for practical payment and transport arrangements if export momentum is to be sustained. Masoud Barhaman of the Iran–Africa Joint Chamber of Commerce said the continent offers major opportunities in agriculture, engineering and basic commodities but that unlocking them requires lower logistics costs and reliable settlement channels. Rouhollah Latifi of the Trade Development Commission urged the adoption of regular transport routes, barter or settlement mechanisms and more active promotion of Iranian goods at trade fairs.
Officials highlight early commercial wins to illustrate potential. Available trade data show modest but growing exports of iron and steel to Tunisia and spot markets buying Iranian foodstuffs, though some agricultural goods continue to reach African consumers indirectly through re‑export hubs such as Dubai. Exporters say building direct logistics and financial links would reduce intermediaries, preserve product branding and improve margins for Iranian producers.
Tehran’s outreach to Africa reflects a broader economic strategy: diversify markets, deepen industrial ties and convert diplomatic goodwill into lasting commercial relationships. Whether the recent surge in non‑oil exports can be turned into sustained growth will depend on the government’s ability to resolve transport and payment bottlenecks, scale up joint production with African partners, and translate diplomatic accords into bankable projects and ongoing trade flows.