Reaching the Consumers | Distributing a Product | Market Access Procedures | Organizing Goods Transport | Identifying a Supplier

Reaching the Consumers

Marketing Opportunities

Consumer Behavior: Iranian households' demand for durable consumer goods is very high. Thus, cars are in a state of disrepair and must be completely renewed. In general, Iranians prefer durable consumer goods manufactured abroad as they consider them to be of a better quality. Search for best quality is moreover one of the characteristics of the consumers.

Consumer Profile and Purchasing Power: One finds a young population (50% are less than 25 years) which is in a phase of modernisation. Thus goods symbolising the consumer society are in demand.

Main Advertising Agencies: List of Iranian advertising companies

Distributing a Product

Market Shares: Retail business sector represented nearly 80% of the turnover of the distribution sector.

Market Access Procedures

International Conventions

Party to the Kyoto Protocol
Party to the Washington Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
Party to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal

Main International Economic Cooperation

Iran is the second producer country of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) http://www.opec.org/opec_web/en/

Iran is the member of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation (OEC) which includes nine other countries of Western and Central Asia (Turkey, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, and five Republics of Central Asia) But the OEC has not succeeded in liberalising exchanges between its members and continues to be passive in this regard.

Since 2005, Iran is an observer member of the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation (OCS) which includes China, Kazakhstan, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. The observer members include Mongolia, Iran, India and Pakistan. One of the goals of this organisation is to facilitate co-operation between these States in the political, economic and commercial, scientific and technical, cultural and educational fields as well as in the fields of energy, transport, tourism and environment. The permanent members of the OCS account for 20% of the world oil reserves and 38 % of oil reserves.

Iran is in the process of negotiation to conclude a cooperation agreement with the European Union which has an economic dimension but for the moment these negotiations have stopped because of tensions related to the nuclear power file.

The country have signed a trade agreement with 21 other countries in the São Paulo Round of the Global System of Trade Preferences among Developing Countries (GSTP).

Non Tariff Barriers

A general license granted by the Ministry of Commerce is required to import into Iran. Furthermore, the importer needs the approval of the appropriate Ministry.
The market is open for staple commodities, capital goods, spare parts and raw materials. Capital goods, raw materials, medicines, wheat and other strategic goods do not attract any import customs duties. Finished products competing with a local production or local consumer goods cannot be imported. These goods are imported through non-official channels.
It is important to check with your national authorities present in the country, specific information, especially given the frequent changes made in import regulations.

Customs Duties and Taxes on Imports

Custom duties are on an average about 30% of the CIF value of the goods at the rate of one dollar for 1.750 Rials. Tariffs vary from 0% for the most important basic and strategic commodities, to 100% for the few authorised consumer goods. Custom duties are relatively high in the free zones also, amounting to 50% in certain cases. Non Islamic goods cannot be imported. In the case of production under license, the local share must be progressively increased.
Authorised importers paying customs duties must also pay other taxes.

Customs Classification: Iran uses the harmonised system of classification
Import Procedures: Presently, as Iran is focussing on its membership application to the WTO, the rules and regulations as regards imports and customs, duties, taxes and other aspects of this type change frequently.
Importing Samples

For Further Information: Iran Customs

Learn more about Traders, Agents in Iran on Globaltrade.net, the Directory for International Trade Services.

Organizing Goods Transport

Main Useful Means of Transport: Road transport is the most popular means of transport because the network is of a good quality and is the least expensive means.
Ports: Description of ports in Iran
Airports: Iran Air
Sea Transport Organizations: Ports and Shipping of Iran
Air Transport Organizations: Civil aviation organisation of Iran
Road Transport Organizations: Authorities of Transports and Terminals of Iran
Rail Transport Organizations: Railway Companies of the Islamic Republic of Iran

Identifying a Supplier

Type of Production: Oil, petrochemistry, fertilisers, textiles, cement and other materials of construction, food processing (sugar refining, vegetable oil), iron and non irom metals, arms.

Business Directories

Multi-sector Directories: All.biz - Iran - Directory of companies in Iran.
Iran Export - Iranian export directory.
Iranian Yellow Pages - Iranian business directory.
Irxp - Iran's import-export business.
Kish Yellow Pages - Directory of businesses on the Kish Islands.
Sireh.com - Directory of companies in Iran.
The Yellow Pages - Search a business in Iran.

Manufacturers Associations of the Main Industries: 5 professional associations listed for Iran.

Trade Agencies and Their Representations Abroad: Iran Chamber of Commerce and Industries
Enterprises Federation: The Association of Iran Industry and Manufacturers

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Iran: Selling and Buying