Iran-Turkey Trade Still Falls Short of Its Real Potential in 2025

According to an ecoiran report citing the Tehran Chamber of Commerce's economic studies office and International Trade Center data, Iran-Turkey trade in 2025 fell short of its real potential despite the two countries' geographic and economic ties. Turkey's imports from Iran stood at about $2.5 billion and its exports to Iran at about $3.1 billion, leaving the trade balance in Turkey's favor. The composition is also asymmetric: more than half of Turkey's exports to Iran consist of machinery, plastics and electrical equipment, while over 89% of Iran's exports to Turkey are aluminum, copper, fruit and nuts, and other raw materials and industrial inputs. The Tehran Chamber report notes bilateral trade is highly sensitive to political developments and international financial restrictions, and suggests Iran use Turkey as an export hub toward Europe, the Balkans, the Caucasus and Central Asia rather than treating it merely as a market.