Iran-Africa trade sees sharp rise in 2025, driven by summit-backed deals
TPO official cites 85% export growth in Q1, urges strategic shift toward high-value products and African-based production
TEHRAN, Iran (MNTV) — Iran’s trade with African nations has witnessed significant growth in the first quarter of 2025, with exports rising by 85 percent compared to the same period last year, according to the Trade Promotion Organization (TPO).
Mohammad-Reza Safari, who heads the Africa Department at TPO, said that the country’s trade balance with Africa has reached 113 percent so far this year, reflecting stronger export performance across 32 African countries—up from 27 previously.
Safari attributed the expansion in trade largely to the outcomes of the Iran-Africa Economic Cooperation Summit, which he said played a key role in accelerating the implementation of agreements approved by the government’s Africa Headquarters.
He noted that bilateral trade volume currently stands at approximately $1.3 billion and emphasized that both sides are working to raise this figure to between $3-5 billion by the end of 2025.
In light of rising global energy and transportation costs and the imposition of new U.S. tariffs on African exports, Safari proposed a strategic pivot toward exporting high value-added goods and investing in localized production across African nations.
He said this approach mirrors long-standing Chinese investment models on the continent and could enhance Iran’s competitive edge in African markets.
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