How to import from Iran: a step-by-step guide for first-time importers

Step 1: Define the product before you contact anyone

Write a one-page specification first. For food, it should name the variety or grade, size or count, moisture, packaging, labelling language, quantity per shipment and any lab limits your market applies, such as pesticide residues or aflatoxin. For stone, carpets or handicrafts, it should name dimensions, finish, tolerances and how many pieces may differ from the sample.

A specification lets you compare quotations on the same basis. Without one, two suppliers can quote the same product name for goods of very different quality, and the lower price is usually the lower grade.

Before you order, check how your product is classified. The first six digits of the HS code are shared internationally; check the full code with your customs broker, because the duty rate, import licence and required certificates in your country depend on it.

• Product name, variety or grade, and the standard you refer to (for example ISO 3632 for saffron)
• Size, count or dimensions with tolerances
• Moisture, purity and lab limits that apply in your market
• Packaging: inner pack, outer carton, pallet, labels and language
• Quantity per shipment and how many shipments per year

Step 2: Find and shortlist suppliers

Iranian exporters fall into three groups: growers or manufacturers that export directly, processing and packing companies that buy from many growers, and trading companies. All three can be good partners. What matters is whether they control quality and can produce the documents your customs office needs.

On ASL Market you can browse listings by category, chat with suppliers through the platform, or post a buying request at /post-request so suppliers come to you. Messages go through ASL Market and contact details stay private, which keeps the whole negotiation on record.

Shortlist two or three suppliers. Ask each for recent photos of the actual lot, the export documents they usually provide, the minimum order quantity and the lead time from order to loading.

Step 3: Order samples and test them

Samples are the cheapest insurance you can buy. Ask for samples from the lot you will receive, not a showroom sample, and ask the supplier to keep a sealed counter-sample of the same lot.

For food products, send the sample to an accredited laboratory in your own market and test the parameters your authorities check at the border. For saffron that means ISO 3632 colour, aroma and bitterness values; for nuts and dried fruit it usually means aflatoxin and moisture; for most plant products it also means pesticide residues.

Step 4: Get a written quotation with an Incoterm

A complete quotation names the product and specification, unit price, quantity, packaging, Incoterm with a named place, ship-by date, documents included and payment terms. A price without an Incoterm cannot be compared with another price.

Common Incoterms for Iranian shipments are EXW and FCA at the factory or warehouse, FOB Bandar Abbas, CFR and CIF to your port, and DAP to your warehouse. Our guide /guides/incoterms-for-iranian-exports explains who pays what under each one.

On ASL Market the supplier confirms price, quantity, freight, Incoterm and ship-by date before you pay. Freight is added to the invoice by the supplier after checking it.

Step 5: Pay in a way that protects you

A first order with a new supplier is where most buyers lose money, usually by paying 100 percent in advance to an account they cannot recover funds from. An escrow arrangement removes most of that risk: the money is held by a third party and released to the supplier only after you confirm receipt.

On ASL Market, payment is made in USDT (Tether) today, and more payment methods are coming soon. ASL Market holds the payment in ASL Secure Pay until you confirm receipt. If you neither confirm nor dispute, receipt is auto-confirmed after a set period. If there is a problem, you open a dispute, ASL Market decides it, and a partial refund is possible. The details are in /guides/paying-iranian-suppliers-safely.

Import rules differ by country; check your own country's rules on trade with Iran before you order.

Step 6: Check the export documents before loading

Ask the supplier for draft copies of every document before the goods are loaded, and send them to your customs broker. Errors such as a different product name on the invoice and the certificate of origin, or a wrong HS code, are easy to fix before loading and expensive to fix at your port.

The usual set is a commercial invoice, a packing list, a certificate of origin issued by an Iranian chamber of commerce, the transport document (bill of lading, air waybill or road consignment note) and, for food and plant products, a phytosanitary or health certificate and a lab analysis. See /guides/export-documents-from-iran for who issues each one.

Step 7: Ship the goods

Most container cargo leaves through Bandar Abbas (Shahid Rajaee port) and is often transshipped at Jebel Ali in the UAE. Rail runs to China and Central Asia, the Caspian ports and the North–South corridor (INSTC) serve Russia, and road freight serves Turkey and Iraq. Saffron and other high-value, low-weight goods often travel by air.

Choose the route by cost, transit time and how sensitive the product is. Soft dates such as Mazafati need a refrigerated container; stone needs a container that can carry its weight. Our guide /guides/shipping-routes-from-iran compares the routes.

Step 8: Clear customs at destination

Your customs broker files the import declaration using the commercial invoice, packing list, transport document and certificates. Food and plant products may be held for a document check, an identity check or a physical inspection and sampling by your food or plant health authority.

Plan for import duty, VAT or sales tax, port charges and broker fees in your landed cost. A certificate of origin can matter for the duty rate, so make sure it matches the invoice exactly.

Step 9: Check quality on arrival

Inspect the goods as soon as they arrive and before they are mixed with other stock. Photograph the container seal, the cargo when the doors open, the cartons and a sample of the product. Compare weight, count and packaging with the packing list, and compare the product with your retained sample.

If something is wrong, record it in writing with photos and, where needed, a lab report. On ASL Market, open a dispute before receipt is confirmed so the payment is still held while the case is decided.

• Seal number matches the bill of lading
• Carton count and gross and net weight match the packing list
• Labels and lot numbers match the documents
• Product matches the approved sample in size, colour, moisture and smell
• No signs of moisture, pests, mould or crushed cartons

How to import from Iran on ASL Market

Browse listings at /categories/asl_agriculture_food and other categories, chat with suppliers through the platform, or post a buying request at /post-request with your specification and quantity. The supplier confirms price, quantity, freight, Incoterm and ship-by date. Then you pay in USDT and ASL Market holds the payment until you confirm receipt; see /trade-assurance.

A store with the Verified badge has at least two live listings with photos, or documents checked by ASL Market. It is not a quality certificate, so still test samples and check documents. If you need help, contact support on Telegram @alirezaasll, WhatsApp +98 912 021 1407, or through a support ticket.

FAQ

What is the first step to import from Iran?

Write a clear product specification and check the full HS code and import requirements with your customs broker. Only then contact suppliers, so every quotation is made on the same basis. This avoids comparing prices for different grades.

Do I need samples before a first order?

Yes, for a first order with a new supplier samples are strongly advised. Ask for samples from the actual lot and have food samples tested by an accredited laboratory for the parameters your border authority checks. Ask the supplier to keep a sealed counter-sample.

Which Incoterm should a first-time importer use?

Many first-time importers prefer CFR or CIF to their own port, because the supplier books the sea freight and the buyer only handles arrival. Experienced importers with their own forwarder often prefer FCA or FOB Bandar Abbas. Whatever you choose, always name the place.

How do I pay an Iranian supplier safely?

Use a payment method where a third party holds the money until you receive the goods. On ASL Market, ASL Secure Pay holds your USDT payment until you confirm receipt, and you can open a dispute if the goods do not match the agreed order.

Which documents do I need to clear Iranian goods?

Usually a commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, transport document and, for food or plant products, a phytosanitary or health certificate and a lab analysis. Your customs broker confirms the exact list for your product and country.

How long does shipping from Iran take?

It depends on the route. Sea freight to the Gulf usually takes days, while sea freight to Europe or East Asia via transshipment usually takes several weeks. Air freight usually takes a few days including handling.

Is importing from Iran legal in my country?

Import rules differ by country, and ASL Market does not give legal advice. Check your own country's rules on trade with Iran before you order, ideally with your customs broker or a trade lawyer.