China-Iran Trade Data: 2025

I. Core China-Iran Trade Statistics (2025)
- Total Bilateral Trade: Approx. US$6.98 billion (approx. RMB 71.3 billion), a year-on-year decrease of 25.2%
- China's Exports to Iran: US$6.95 billion (-22.1%)
- China's Imports from Iran: US$3.03 billion (-31.3%)
- China's Trade Surplus: US$3.92 billion
- Non-Oil Trade (Iranian Statistics, March–November 2025): US$20.15 billion; China remains Iran's largest non-oil trading partner
- Energy Focus: China imports an average of approximately 900,000 barrels of Iranian crude oil per day, accounting for about 7.5% of China's total crude oil imports
II. Trade Structure (2025)
China's Exports to Iran (Primarily Machinery, Electronics, and Manufactured Goods)
- Machinery and Electrical Equipment: Communication devices, electric motors, engines, compressors, valves, and bearings
- Transportation Equipment: Automobiles, motorcycles
- Building materials, light industrial products, home appliances, chemical products, medical equipment
China's Imports from Iran (Energy, Chemicals, and Agricultural Products)
- Crude Oil (The dominant commodity; not fully reflected in public statistics)
- Polyethylene (Approx. RMB 7.59 billion, accounting for 34.9% of imports)
- Metal Ores (Primarily iron ore; approx. RMB 5.79 billion)
- Methanol, pistachios (China's largest source for pistachio imports), frozen food products, etc.
III. Highlights of Cooperation Across Various Sectors (2025)
1. Energy (Core Pillar)
- Crude Oil Trade: China is Iran's largest crude oil buyer, accounting for approximately 90% of Iran's oil exports
- Oil and Gas Development: Advancement of projects such as the North Azadegan Oil Field; deepening of the "oil-for-infrastructure" model
- Pipelines: Relaunch of the "Peace Pipeline" (Iran–Pakistan–Xinjiang), with a planned daily transport capacity of 1.5 million barrels
- Nuclear Energy: China's participation in the upgrade of the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, plus the construction of new reactor units
2. Infrastructure and Logistics (Breaking Through Blockades)
- China-Iran Railway (Xi'an–Tehran): Launching in May 2025; covering a total distance of approximately 5,500 km, with a direct transit time of 15 days (cutting the duration of sea transport by half).
- Railway Electrification: Tehran–Mashhad section (926 km) — construction to commence in October 2025, financed by Chinese loans.
- Ports: Advancing cooperation on Chabahar Port to serve as a key hub connecting Central and South Asia.
- Metro Systems: China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) is undertaking the expansion of the Tehran Metro (adding 6 new lines).
3. Finance and Settlement (De-dollarization)
- Expanding the use of RMB for trade settlement, thereby increasing the share of RMB within Iran's foreign exchange reserves.
- Providing risk compensation mechanisms and export credit insurance support for China-Iran trade.
4. New Energy and Digital Economy
- Implementation of photovoltaic and wind power projects to facilitate Iran's energy transition.
- Advancing cooperation in digital infrastructure, telecommunications equipment, and e-commerce.
5. Agriculture and Cultural Exchange
- Growth in exports of Iranian agricultural products (such as pistachios and saffron) to China.
- Establishment of a dedicated "Iran Agri-Food Pavilion" at the China International Import Expo (CIIE), accompanied by the signing of multiple cooperation MOUs.
- Continued engagement in "Cultural Years," student exchange programs, and academic collaborations.
IV. Background and Characteristics of the Cooperation
- Framed by the 25-Year Comprehensive Cooperation Plan between China and Iran, with a projected total investment of $400 billion.
- While trade volume has experienced a decline due to U.S. sanctions and geopolitical conflicts, the underlying trade structure demonstrates strong resilience and high complementarity.
- Integration of innovative transport corridors (railways + pipelines) with RMB-based settlements to establish a robust, risk-resilient cooperation model.