Iran’s exports to Africa rose sharply in the first nine months of its current financial year, highlighting a renewed push by Tehran to deepen trade engagement with the continent.
According to officials from the Trade Promotion Organization of Iran (TPO), Iran’s exports to Africa increased 66% year on year between 21 March and 21 December 2025, driven by stronger policy coordination and renewed diplomatic focus.
Trade Volumes Accelerate
Mohammadreza Safari, director general of the TPO’s Africa office, said Iran’s total trade with 39 African countries reached US$940 million over the nine-month period, representing a 66% increase compared with the same period a year earlier.
Safari attributed the growth partly to follow-through on government decisions implemented under Iran’s Africa task force, including preparations for the Iran–Africa Economic Cooperation Conference, which authorities are planning to hold again. Preliminary steps for the next edition of the conference are already under way, he said.
Strategy and Policy Direction
Safari stressed the need for a clearly defined long-term strategy for expanding Iran’s trade footprint in Africa. He pointed to contrasting approaches adopted by other major partners on the continent, noting that China has focused on foreign direct investment and large-scale infrastructure projects, while Turkey has prioritised private-sector development through industrial networking and infrastructure investment.
Iran, he said, should pursue a complementary trade and investment strategy aimed at building sustainable supply chains and maintaining steady exports of products with strong competitive capacity, in order to deepen commercial ties with African economies.
Financing Support for Expansion
Support mechanisms for Iran’s Africa trade ambitions are also being strengthened. In December, Masoud Berahman, head of the Iran–Africa Joint Chamber of Commerce, said the government would back Iranian investments and export expansion in Africa through credit guarantees and development finance.
According to Berahman, the Export Guarantee Fund of Iran (EGFI) is expected to support up to US$3.0 billion in Iranian investments across Africa, reducing risk exposure for private-sector firms. In addition, the National Development Fund of Iran (NDF) is expected to provide approximately €2.0 billion to support start-ups and entrepreneurial projects linked to trade development.
Opportunities and Constraints
Berahman said Africa’s large population and expanding consumer base present significant opportunities for Iranian goods, as well as technical and engineering services. However, he cautioned that realising this potential would require stronger infrastructure, clearer policy frameworks and sustained government support.
He criticised the absence of a comprehensive trade roadmap, arguing that Iran’s export sector continues to face challenges in systematically monitoring markets and assessing country-specific trade conditions. Without coordinated planning, he warned, fragmented approaches risk reinforcing what he described as an “island economy”.
Call for Stronger Economic Diplomacy
Berahman urged closer cooperation between the TPO, Iran’s economic diplomacy institutions and the private sector, particularly in strengthening digital trade systems and developing an operational export roadmap. He also highlighted the role of commercial attaches in expanding trade ties, noting that Turkey maintains 44 trade counsellors across Africa, compared with just three active Iranian counterparts.
“A shared roadmap is needed to guide our move toward target markets such as Africa,” Berahman said, pointing to the continent’s estimated 1.45 billion population as a key driver of long-term demand for goods and services.
Outlook
Iran’s recent export growth underscores Africa’s rising importance as a diversification destination beyond traditional regional markets. Whether the momentum can be sustained will depend on Iran’s ability to professionalise export capacity building, strengthen economic diplomacy, and translate policy commitments into consistent market access and private-sector participation across African economies.