Distributing a product

Market shares

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

Organizations in the retail sector

We can identify professional tradeshows on your 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

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

We can indicate you which are the customs duties applied to your product.

Find out the local taxes that apply to your product.

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

Get a ballpark figure for transportation costs for your product in this country through a shipping estimate.

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

The Yellow Pages
20UN
Irancodb

Manufacturers associations of the main industries

Association Of Iran Industry Equipment Manufacturers
Association of Iranian Confectionery Manufacturing Companies
Plastic Machineries Manufacturer Association

Trade Agencies and their representations abroad

Iran Chamber of Commerce and Industries

Enterprises federation

The Association of Iran Industry and Manufacturers

Standards

National standards organizations

ISIRI

Integration in the international standards network

The Institute of Standards and Industrial Research of Iran - ISIRI, has been authorised to lay down standards. ISIRI is a member of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), the International Organization of Legal Metrology (OIML), Pact Meter about the International Office of Weights & Scales (BIPM), and member of the World Association of Industrial & Technological Research Organizations (WAITRO).

Classification of standards

Iran applies the national standards (ISIRI) and the ISO.

Online consultation of standards

Iranian standards can be consulted on the ISIRI website.

Certification organizations

Institute of Standards and Industrial Research

Find out the standards and labelling requirements that apply to your products.

Intellectual Property

National organizations

On July 6, 1993, the Iranian Parliament adopted the amended text of the Paris Convention dealing with industrial property. This Parliament also authorised the government to sign the Convention creating the WIPO (branch of Paris Convention) signed on 14/07/1967 at Stockholm as well as the amendments which followed on 2nd October 1979. See the WIPO site.
The website, gives useful information on the various organisations dealing with questions of intellectual property in Iran.

Regional organizations

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