Iran's hand-knotted carpet exports from 1397 to 1404 (2018–2026)

Customs recorded US$239.1 million of hand-knotted carpet exports in 1397 (2018/19). In 1398 (2019/20) the value was US$72.0 million, less than a third of the year before. It stayed at about the same level in 1399 (2020/21), at US$72.4 million.

The value then fell for two years in a row. It was US$64.3 million in 1400 (2021/22). In 1401 (2022/23) it dropped to US$50.9 million. Exports over the four years after 1397 added up to US$259.6 million, only slightly more than the 1397 value alone.

All values are in US dollars as recorded by customs, without adjustment for inflation. Iranian years begin in late March, so 1401 runs from March 2022 to March 2023.

Iranian hand-knotted carpets went to 79 countries in 1401 (2022/23), according to the customs data. Three markets took just over half of the total value. Germany came first with US$9.1 million, or 17.8% of exports.

The United Arab Emirates followed with US$8.7 million and a 17.2% share. Japan came third with US$8.2 million, or 16.1%. Among the other markets in the customs data, Pakistan bought US$3.0 million and Lebanon US$1.5 million.

Pakistan's share of the 1401 total was about 6%, and Lebanon's about 3%. Exports were less concentrated in 1397 (2018/19). That year the three largest markets together took about 45% of the value. Germany alone took about 15% of exports in 1397, and Japan about 10%, so both shares grew as the total fell.

In 1397 (2018/19) the United States was the largest buyer, with US$42.5 million. Germany followed with US$36.3 million, and the United Arab Emirates with US$29.2 million. In 1398 (2019/20) exports to the United States fell below US$0.1 million, and from 1399 (2020/21) customs recorded none.

Japan became the largest market in 1398 (2019/20), with US$13.9 million. It kept first place in 1399 (2020/21) with US$13.4 million, slightly ahead of Germany. In 1398 the two countries together bought US$27.1 million, or 38% of all exports. Germany returned to first place in 1400 (2021/22) and held it in 1401.

In 1401, exports to Germany were a quarter of their 1397 value. Exports to Japan were a third of theirs. Over the same period, exports to Lebanon fell from US$16.2 million to US$1.5 million.

The UAE recovered part of its loss after 1398 (2019/20), when exports there stood at US$6.1 million. By 1401 they had reached US$8.7 million. Pakistan was a smaller and steadier market, buying between US$2.6 million and US$6.3 million in each of the five years.

Customs reported that exports of hand-made carpets in 1402 (2023/24) were under US$50 million, without giving an exact figure, according to Taadol newspaper. For 1403 (2024/25), customs put exports of hand-made carpets and gabbeh at US$41.7 million, sent to 55 countries. That was 3% more than in 1402, as Eghtesad Online and EcoIran reported.

The Iran National Carpet Center gave a different figure for the same year. Its head put exports in 1403 at US$39.7 million, about 4% above the year before, as Tehran Times reported. By the centre's count, the carpets went to 65 countries.

Customs said the four largest markets in 1403 together bought US$22.6 million, just over half of all exports. China was one of the four, alongside the three markets that led in 1401.

Partial figures for the first four months also show a small rise. Customs put exports in the first four months of 1402 at US$11.5 million. For the same months of 1403, the head of the National Center for Creative Industries and Carpet gave US$13 million, as EcoIran reported.

For 1404 (2025/26) only a partial figure is available. The Iran National Carpet Center said exports from the start of the year to 22 February 2026 exceeded US$30 million, as Mehr News Agency reported. By then 1,737 tonnes of carpets had gone to 61 countries. The centre listed the UAE first among the five main buyers, with Germany second.

Customs and the Iran National Carpet Center often publish different totals for the same year. For 1403 the gap is US$2.0 million. The customs figure covers hand-made carpets and gabbeh, while the centre refers to hand-made carpets. Neither body has published an explanation of the gap.

The customs series compiled by Namafar follows HS heading 5701, which covers knotted carpets and other knotted textile floor coverings. Press reports rarely name the tariff heading behind a figure, so the scope of a reported number is not always clear.

Smaller gaps appear in earlier years. For 1401 (2022/23), Namafar's compilation of customs data gives US$50.9 million, and customs figures reported in the press gave US$50.7 million. The head of the carpet centre spoke of US$50 million for the same year, according to Mehr News Agency.

Some reports use a wider customs category. Tejarat News reported over US$78 million of exports of all types of carpets and floor coverings in 1401, to 82 countries. That category is broader than hand-knotted carpets and is not comparable with the figures above.

The table sets out the customs series and the official figures announced since. At US$41.7 million, the customs figure for 1403 is below every year of the earlier customs series. The figure for 1404 covers part of the year only.