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The twenty imports Iran is best placed to replace.

Iran imported USD 15bn of manufactured goods in 2024 and exported USD 5.4bn. These are the twenty that sit closest to what it already makes well, with how concentrated the supply of each is.

USD 1.6bnthe twenty, imported in 2024
119products imported at scale, not yet exported well, and close to existing strengths
524products Iran already exports well
309product lines imported at USD 10m or more
The twenty

Demand, capability, exposure. Nothing else is claimed.

Each line shows the import bill, where it comes from, the nearest thing Iran already exports well, and how many countries make it. It does not say whether a plant in Iran would pay. That reason is not in any trade record, and it is the maker's question.

This edition is trade and capability only, scored out of 8. The UK edition adds which public bodies buy each product and which region holds the capability; those layers are built only where a country publishes contract awards and regional trade, and Iran does not publish them in a form this record can read yet.

  1. 1

    Cotton yarn: (not sewing thread), single, of combed fibres, 85% or more by weight of cotton, less than 232.56 but not...HS 520523

    Comes fromUzbekistan 100%, 2 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone named
    Exports of this linenone recorded
    Countries that export it well18

    Score 8 of 8: import bill USD 69m, top 10 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Iran's export strengths in the top 3 per cent (3); Uzbekistan supplies 100 per cent (2).

    USD 69mup 72% on 2022
  2. 2

    Vehicle parts and accessories: n.e.c. in heading no. 8708HS 870899

    Comes fromChina 78%, 25 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone named
    Exports of this lineUSD 3m; 9 more lines in the heading, USD 575m
    Countries that export it well28

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 150m, top 2 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Iran's export strengths in the top 22 per cent (2); China supplies 78 per cent (2).

    USD 150mdown 57% on 2022
  3. 3

    Seats: of a kind used for motor vehiclesHS 940120

    Comes fromChina 99%, 6 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone named
    Exports of this lineUSD 12k
    Countries that export it well20

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 90m, top 6 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Iran's export strengths in the top 21 per cent (2); China supplies 99 per cent (2).

    USD 90mup 132% on 2022
  4. 4

    Insulated electric conductors: ignition wiring sets and other wiring sets of a kind used in vehicles, aircraft or shipsHS 854430

    Comes fromChina 99%, 13 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone named
    Exports of this lineUSD 19k; 2 more lines in the heading, USD 33m
    Countries that export it well30

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 78m, top 8 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Iran's export strengths in the top 10 per cent (2); China supplies 99 per cent (2).

    USD 78mup 67% on 2022
  5. 5

    Tobacco: other than homogenised or reconstituted or smokingHS 240399

    Comes fromGermany 93%, 3 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone named
    Exports of this lineUSD 1k
    Countries that export it well30

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 43m, top 21 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Iran's export strengths in the top 6 per cent (3); Germany supplies 93 per cent (2).

    USD 43mup 34% on 2022
  6. 6

    Sanitary towels (pads) and tampons, napkins (diapers), napkin liners and similar articles, of any materialHS 961900

    Comes fromTurkey 94%, 8 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone named
    Exports of this lineUSD 1m
    Countries that export it well34

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 38m, top 24 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Iran's export strengths in the top 3 per cent (3); Turkey supplies 94 per cent (2).

    USD 38mdown 17% on 2022
  7. 7

    Fabrics, woven: containing 85% or more by weight of textured polyester filaments, dyedHS 540752

    Comes fromChina 97%, 7 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone named
    Exports of this lineUSD 21k; 5 more lines in the heading, USD 108m
    Countries that export it well5

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 193m, top 1 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Iran's export strengths in the top 48 per cent (1); China supplies 97 per cent (2).

    USD 193mup 95% on 2022
  8. 8

    Pumps: centrifugal, n.e.c. in heading no. 8413, for liquidsHS 841370

    Comes fromChina 73%, 19 source countries
    Nearest export strengthMachinery, plant and laboratory equipment: for treating materials by... (exports USD 10m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 679k; 4 more lines in the heading, USD 85m
    Countries that export it well19

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 88m, top 6 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Iran's export strengths in the top 48 per cent (1); China supplies 73 per cent (2).

    USD 88mdown 24% on 2022
  9. 9

    Vehicles: with only spark-ignition internal combustion piston engine, cylinder capacity over 1000 but not over 1500ccHS 870322

    Comes fromChina 93%, 7 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone named
    Exports of this lineUSD 763k; 1 more line in the heading, USD 14m
    Countries that export it well18

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 87m, top 6 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Iran's export strengths in the top 43 per cent (1); China supplies 93 per cent (2).

    USD 87mfrom USD 725k in 2022
  10. 10

    Machinery parts: not containing electrical connectors, insulators, coils, contacts or other electrical features...HS 848790

    Comes fromChina 88%, 18 source countries
    Nearest export strengthBoilers: parts of central heating boilers (excluding those of... (exports USD 4m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 212k
    Countries that export it well24

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 87m, top 7 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Iran's export strengths in the top 45 per cent (1); China supplies 88 per cent (2).

    USD 87mup 260% on 2022
  11. 11

    Rubber: new pneumatic tyres, of a kind used on buses or lorriesHS 401120

    Comes fromChina 100%, 4 source countries
    Nearest export strengthRubber: vulcanised (other than hard rubber), tubing, piping and... (exports USD 938k)
    Exports of this lineUSD 10k; 1 more line in the heading, USD 24m
    Countries that export it well18

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 82m, top 8 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Iran's export strengths in the top 30 per cent (1); China supplies 100 per cent (2).

    USD 82mdown 44% on 2022
  12. 12

    Cocoa: powder, not containing added sugar or other sweetening matterHS 180500

    Comes fromTurkey 67%, 15 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone named
    Exports of this lineUSD 7k
    Countries that export it well20

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 63m, top 12 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Iran's export strengths in the top 17 per cent (2); Turkey supplies 67 per cent (2).

    USD 63mup 18% on 2022
  13. 13

    Paper and paperboard: coated, impregnated or covered with plastics (excluding adhesives), other than bleached and...HS 481159

    Comes fromTurkey 92%, 12 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone named
    Exports of this lineUSD 398k; 1 more line in the heading, USD 29m
    Countries that export it well26

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 63m, top 13 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Iran's export strengths in the top 16 per cent (2); Turkey supplies 92 per cent (2).

    USD 63mdown 8% on 2022
  14. 14

    Medium density fibreboard (MDF), of a thickness exceeding 9 mmHS 441114

    Comes fromTurkey 62%, 4 source countries
    Nearest export strengthParticle board of wood, whether or not agglomerated with resins or... (exports USD 4m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 2m
    Countries that export it well30

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 26m, top 37 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Iran's export strengths in the top 5 per cent (3); Turkey supplies 62 per cent (2).

    USD 26mdown 88% on 2022
  15. 15

    Medicaments: consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.c. in heading no. 3004, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses...HS 300490

    Comes fromGermany 29%, 30 source countries
    Nearest export strengthPaints and varnishes: based on polyesters, dispersed or dissolved in... (exports USD 7m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 11m; 5 more lines in the heading, USD 204m
    Countries that export it well32

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 176m, top 1 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Iran's export strengths in the top 16 per cent (2).

    USD 176mdown 15% on 2022
  16. 16

    Engines: parts, suitable for use solely or principally with spark-ignition internal combustion piston engines (for...HS 840991

    Comes fromChina 76%, 14 source countries
    Nearest export strengthBoilers: parts of central heating boilers (excluding those of... (exports USD 4m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 415k; 1 more line in the heading, USD 60m
    Countries that export it well19

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 65m, top 12 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Iran's export strengths in the top 39 per cent (1); China supplies 76 per cent (2).

    USD 65mdown 42% on 2022
  17. 17

    Medicaments: (not containing antibiotics, hormones, alkaloids or their derivatives), for therapeutic or prophylactic...HS 300390

    Comes fromFrance 51%, 7 source countries
    Nearest export strengthBlood, human or animal, antisera, other blood fractions and... (exports USD 7m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 314k
    Countries that export it well24

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 58m, top 15 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Iran's export strengths in the top 19 per cent (2); France supplies 51 per cent (1).

    USD 58mup 11% on 2022
  18. 18

    Furnaces and ovens: parts of non-electric furnaces and ovens (including incinerators), of industrial or laboratory useHS 841790

    Comes fromChina 63%, 7 source countries
    Nearest export strengthMachine-tools: sawing machines, for working stone, ceramics... (exports USD 707k)
    Exports of this lineUSD 11k; 2 more lines in the heading, USD 28m
    Countries that export it well19

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 56m, top 16 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Iran's export strengths in the top 26 per cent (1); China supplies 63 per cent (2).

    USD 56mup 3% on 2022
  19. 19

    Wood pulp: chemical wood pulp, soda or sulphate, (other than dissolving grades), semi-bleached or bleached, of...HS 470321

    Comes fromTurkey 93%, 2 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone named
    Exports of this lineUSD 21k; 1 more line in the heading, USD 45m
    Countries that export it well12

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 48m, top 18 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Iran's export strengths in the top 37 per cent (1); Turkey supplies 93 per cent (2).

    USD 48mdown 64% on 2022
  20. 20

    Trailers, semi-trailers and other vehicles not mechanically propelled: parts thereof for heading no. 8716HS 871690

    Comes fromTurkey 80%, 9 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone named
    Exports of this lineUSD 1m
    Countries that export it well26

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 46m, top 19 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Iran's export strengths in the top 28 per cent (1); Turkey supplies 80 per cent (2).

    USD 46mdown 6% on 2022

The bill and its path, the sources and their unit values, who exports the line well, the nearest strengths, the public buyers where a country publishes them, and the method. We reply by email. Privacy

One line per customs heading. Products Iran already exports well and still imports are below, because they are a different conversation. No employment figures appear on this page, by decision.

Made here already, still imported

Scale conversations, not capability ones.

  • Blood, human or animal, antisera, other blood fractions and immunological... imports USD 142m, exports USD 53m, top source Germany 79%
  • Carpets and other textile floor coverings: woven, (not tufted or flocked), of... imports USD 34m, exports USD 11m, top source Turkey 100%
  • Cranes: overhead travelling cranes on fixed support imports USD 20m, exports USD 773k, top source Spain 73%
  • Washing and cleaning preparations: powders, flakes and granules... imports USD 34m, exports USD 18m, top source Turkey 90%
  • Glassware: drinking glasses (not stemware), other than of lead crystal or... imports USD 19m, exports USD 3m, top source China 92%
  • Glues or adhesives: prepared, products suitable for use as glues or adhesives... imports USD 18m, exports USD 3m, top source Turkey 74%
  • Food preparations: of flour, meal, starch, malt extract or milk products... imports USD 21m, exports USD 9m, top source Netherlands 38%
  • Waters: including mineral and aerated, containing added sugar or other... imports USD 19m, exports USD 9m, top source Turkey 68%
  • Paints and varnishes: (based on polymers other than acrylic or vinyl)... imports USD 11m, exports USD 3m, top source China 75%
  • Glass: safety glass, laminated, (not of a size and shape suitable for... imports USD 11m, exports USD 4m, top source India 99%
How the twenty were chosen

Three scores, each from a field the record carries.

Import bill, 0 to 3, by percentile among the 309 lines imported at USD 10m or more: above the median one point, top quarter two, top tenth three.

Proximity to export strengths, 0 to 3, on the same percentiles: the product-space method (Hidalgo, Klinger, Barabasi and Hausmann, Science 2007) on CEPII's BACI file of every bilateral trade flow for 2024, 157 countries and 5,388 products. Two products are close when the countries that export one well tend to export the other well. Only products in the upper half for proximity can enter the list at all: best placed is a proximity claim.

Supply concentration, 0 to 2: one point when a single country supplies 40 per cent or more, two at 60 per cent.

Scope. Manufactured goods, customs chapters 16 to 96, excluding ores, fuels and precious metals. Primary agriculture is out of scope for a page about manufacture.

What it cannot tell you

A map of where to look.

Trade data says what crossed the border, not why. Cost, scale, patents, tariffs and the plain fact that a supplier is good at it are all invisible here. The world file reconciles what each pair of countries reports, so a national customs file would differ in detail. Nothing on this page is a forecast or a promise.

Source: CEPII BACI, HS22, version 202601, years 2022 to 2024. Edition of 2026-11-03. The UK edition with its procurement and regional layers is at /made-here/.

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What Iran buys, and from whom: the trade lanes into Iran.

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