Iran

 

General Overview

Population: 77,891,220 (July 2011 est.)
GDP (purchasing power parity): US $863.5 billion (2010 est.)
GDP per capita (PPP): US $11,20 (2010 est.)
GDP (real growth rate): 3% (2010 est.)
Industries:
  • Petroleum
  • Petrochemicals
  • Fertilizers
  • Caustic soda
  • Textiles
  • Cement and other construction materials
  • Food processing (particularly sugar refining and vegetable oil production)
  • Ferrous and non-ferrous metal fabrication
  • Armaments
Imports: US $58.97 billion (2010 est.)
Import commodities:
  • Industrial raw materials and intermediate goods
  • Capital goods
  • Foodstuffs and other consumer goods
  • Technical services
Exports: US $78.69 billion (2010 est.)
Export commodities:
  • Petroleum 80%
  • Chemical and petrochemical products
  • Fruits and nuts
  • Carpets
Alberta's exports to Iran: CDN $7.2 million (2010)
Alberta's main exports to Iran:
  • Wheat
  • Barley
  • Parts of boring or sinking and other machinery
  • Engines and parts
  • Prepared explosives
  • Bovine semen
  • Valves
  • Pumps and parts
  • Self-adhesive plates, sheets, tape
  • Iron or steel articles
  • Gaskets, washers and other seals
  • Instruments for physical or chemical analysis
  • Instruments using optical radiations
Canada's main exports to Iran:
  • Wheat
  • Corn
  • Soya beans
  • Parts of vacuum pumps, compressors, fans
  • Barley
  • Lentils
  • Medicaments
  • Nickel
  • Automatic regulating instruments
  • Antisera and other blood fractions

Information about Iran

CIA World Factbook
Detailed information about Iran's economy, political system and history.

Energy Information Administration
Energy profile for Iran.

World Bank
World Bank profile of Iran.

Export statistics

Alberta's International Trade Review
An analysis of Alberta's international exports of goods and services. Published by Alberta International and Intergovernmental Relations.

Trade Data Online
Customized reports on Canada's trade with over 200 countries.

Alberta-Iran relations

Alberta and Iran share common interests in the development of their oil and gas sectors.

Sector opportunities for Alberta businesses interested in exporting their products

  • Mining equipment and services: Iran has the world's largest deposit of zinc and the second largest deposit of copper. Iran also has significant deposits of iron, uranium, and lead. However, extraction efforts at this stage are on a small scale. The majority of mines and exploration sites in Iran are small-scale, with about 85 per cent of them private or co-operatives. Opportunities are abundant for firms who can offer equipment, expertise or investment. Foreign companies are already active in virtually every aspect of mineral production in Iran, from surveying to conducting feasibility studies to providing equipment for smelters.

  • Oil and gas equipment and services: Foreign companies are allowed to contribute to the development of new oilfields through buy-back deals, creating new opportunities for investment. Iran's parliament has authorized the government to seek $9.5 billion in foreign investment for various projects. These include some 20 oil and gas projects in the Persian Gulf, refineries at Bandar Abbas and Lavan Island, as well as several offshore oil platforms. Iran has begun to pay attention to the sour gas present in its many fields. There is real potential in all stages of sour gas, including drilling, retrieval, safety, transportation and distillates.

Services for exporters

Canada Business
Online tool for new and experienced exporters.

The Canadian Commercial Corporation
Crown corporation that promotes and facilitates international trade on behalf of Canadian industry.

Electronic Business Intelligence Service
Online source for export market intelligence, international company profiles, business opportunities, reports and web links

Export Alert!
A resource for exporters to learn about changes in foreign export regulations.

Export resources
Resources for both new and experienced exporters.

International Trade Canada
Sector reports as well as a list of staff contacts that can assist exporters.

Virtual Trade Commissioner
A database of Canadian exporters that enable companies to provide their information to prospective foreign buyers, importers, distributors and partners.

Services in Iran

Date Updated:
RDP-1611