Ores and metals imports (% of merchandise imports) in Iran
Iran: Ores and metals imports (% of merchandise imports) was 1.9% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Ores and metals imports in Iran, 1963–2023
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise imports.
Analysis
The most recent figure for ores and metals imports in Iran is 1.9%, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of down 4.2% on the previous year and up 35.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, ores and metals imports in Iran peaked at 3.2% in 1997 and was at its lowest, 0.4%, in 2006.
Iran ranks 83rd of 196 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 38 years of available data.
Ores and metals imports (% of merchandise imports) in Iran, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1963 | 1.7% | — |
| 1964 | 1.7% | -2.2% |
| 1965 | 1.2% | -29.3% |
| 1966 | 1.7% | +42.5% |
| 1967 | 2.2% | +28.4% |
| 1968 | 1.9% | -14.2% |
| 1969 | 2.1% | +13.9% |
| 1970 | 2.6% | +19.9% |
| 1971 | 2.2% | -15.5% |
| 1972 | 2.1% | -0.8% |
| 1973 | 2.6% | +23.1% |
| 1974 | 2.2% | -16.7% |
| 1975 | 1.4% | -34.4% |
| 1976 | 1.8% | +21.8% |
| 1977 | 2.0% | +11.4% |
| 1997 | 3.2% | +63.3% |
| 1998 | 2.5% | -20.6% |
| 1999 | 2.3% | -8.6% |
| 2000 | 2.5% | +6.4% |
| 2001 | 2.2% | -8.6% |
| 2002 | 1.9% | -15.3% |
| 2003 | 2.3% | +23.0% |
| 2004 | 2.6% | +10.7% |
| 2005 | 2.1% | -20.4% |
| 2006 | 0.4% | -81.5% |
| 2010 | 1.7% | +341.3% |
| 2011 | 1.3% | -25.2% |
| 2013 | 1.4% | +10.1% |
| 2014 | 2.2% | +55.4% |
| 2015 | 1.7% | -19.5% |
| 2016 | 1.4% | -21.1% |
| 2017 | 2.0% | +45.4% |
| 2018 | 1.7% | -15.8% |
| 2019 | 1.8% | +7.8% |
| 2020 | 1.8% | +1.9% |
| 2021 | 1.8% | -4.3% |
| 2022 | 2.0% | +11.0% |
| 2023 | 1.9% | -4.2% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 1.9% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.7%, 1.1× the median. (56 countries reporting)
- Iran's 1.9% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 2.2%, 84% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Ores and metals imports (% of merchandise imports) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | +341.3% | 0.4% | 1.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.8% | 1.2% | 2.2% | 7 |
| 1970s | 2.1% | 1.4% | 2.6% | 8 |
| 1990s | 2.7% | 2.3% | 3.2% | 3 |
| 2000s | 2.0% | 0.4% | 2.6% | 7 |
| 2010s | 1.7% | 1.3% | 2.2% | 9 |
| 2020s | 1.9% | 1.8% | 2.0% | 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)
- Fuel exports 68.0% (2023)
- Ores and metals exports 4.7% (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 imports in Iran?
- Ores and metals imports in Iran was 1.9% in 2023, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest ores and metals imports recorded in Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 3.2% in 1997.
- What is the lowest ores and metals imports recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.4% in 2006.
- How does Iran rank for ores and metals imports?
- Iran ranks 83rd out of 196 countries with data for 2023.
- Is ores and metals imports rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is up 35.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 imports (% of merchandise imports). 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). Imports of services are services provided by non-residents to residents. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of merchandise imports which is comprised of goods whose economic ownership is changed between a non-resident and a 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.