Ores and metals exports (% of merchandise exports) in Iran
Iran: Ores and metals exports (% of merchandise exports) was 4.7% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Ores and metals exports in Iran, 1963–2023
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise exports.
Analysis
Iran recorded 4.7% for ores and metals exports in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 23.3% on the previous year and up 37.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, ores and metals exports in Iran peaked at 6.7% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 0.1%, in 1976.
Iran ranks 71st of 194 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Ores and metals exports (% of merchandise exports) in Iran, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1963 | 0.6% | — |
| 1964 | 0.7% | +24.7% |
| 1965 | 0.8% | +6.6% |
| 1966 | 0.9% | +9.0% |
| 1967 | 0.5% | -43.5% |
| 1968 | 0.5% | +5.3% |
| 1969 | 0.6% | +26.7% |
| 1970 | 1.2% | +85.7% |
| 1971 | 1.1% | -4.9% |
| 1972 | 0.9% | -21.7% |
| 1973 | 0.7% | -18.9% |
| 1974 | 0.3% | -64.1% |
| 1975 | 0.2% | -7.2% |
| 1976 | 0.1% | -70.9% |
| 1977 | 0.1% | +32.0% |
| 1997 | 0.6% | +546.2% |
| 1998 | 0.6% | -3.9% |
| 1999 | 0.9% | +52.1% |
| 2000 | 0.8% | -11.9% |
| 2001 | 1.0% | +34.1% |
| 2002 | 0.8% | -18.5% |
| 2003 | 1.1% | +30.0% |
| 2004 | 1.0% | -6.5% |
| 2005 | 1.2% | +13.9% |
| 2006 | 2.4% | +107.2% |
| 2010 | 3.1% | +29.4% |
| 2011 | 2.2% | -29.8% |
| 2013 | 3.4% | +54.4% |
| 2014 | 2.9% | -14.5% |
| 2015 | 2.9% | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 3.2% | +9.6% |
| 2017 | 3.2% | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 2.8% | -14.7% |
| 2019 | 6.7% | +142.2% |
| 2020 | 6.0% | -10.9% |
| 2021 | 6.5% | +8.4% |
| 2022 | 6.1% | -6.2% |
| 2023 | 4.7% | -23.3% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 4.7% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.4%, 1.4× the median. (54 countries reporting)
- Iran's 4.7% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 2.5%, 1.9× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Ores and metals exports (% of merchandise exports) in Iran changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | +546.2% | 0.1% | 0.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.7% | 0.5% | 0.9% | 7 |
| 1970s | 0.6% | 0.1% | 1.2% | 8 |
| 1990s | 0.7% | 0.6% | 0.9% | 3 |
| 2000s | 1.2% | 0.8% | 2.4% | 7 |
| 2010s | 3.4% | 2.2% | 6.7% | 9 |
| 2020s | 5.8% | 4.7% | 6.5% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Iran
More energy & mining data for Iran
- Primary energy from fossil nuclear renewables, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fuel imports 1.7% (2023)
- Ores and metals imports 1.9% (2023)
- Fuel exports 68.0% (2023)
- Gas production 2,648 terawatt-hours (2025)
- Fossil fuel production per person, by fuel 28,655 kilowatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel 2,648 terawatt-hours (2025)
- Gas production per person 28,655 kilowatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is ores and metals exports in Iran?
- Ores and metals exports in Iran was 4.7% in 2023, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest ores and metals exports recorded in Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 6.7% in 2019.
- What is the lowest ores and metals exports recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1% in 1976.
- How does Iran rank for ores and metals exports?
- Iran ranks 71st out of 194 countries with data for 2023.
- Is ores and metals exports rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is up 37.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iran data come from?
- The figures come from Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division, published as part of Ores and metals exports (% of merchandise exports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Ores and metals comprise the commodities in SITC (Rev. 3) sections 27 (crude fertilizer, minerals nes); 28 (metalliferous ores, scrap); and 68 (non-ferrous metals). Exports of services are services provided by residents to non-residents. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of merchandise exports which is comprised of goods whose economic ownership is changed between a resident and a non-resident and that are not included in the following specific categories: goods under merchanting, non-monetary gold, and parts of travel, construction, and government goods and services n.i.e.