Tehran (ISNA) - Mohsen Rezaeipour said Iran has significantly diversified its export basket to Vietnam over the past two years, expanding it to around 45 tariff lines and opening new opportunities for products ranging from dairy products, apples and foodstuffs to medical equipment, bitumen and higher-value industrial goods.

He said Vietnam has emerged in recent years as one of the most dynamic and rapidly growing economies in East and Southeast Asia, supported by a population of more than 100 million, a strategic geographical position, numerous trade agreements and extensive integration into global production chains.

Vietnam’s nominal gross domestic product reached around $514.7 billion in 2025, he said, adding that the country recorded GDP growth of 8.02%, one of the highest rates among the world’s major and medium-sized economies, and ranked 33rd globally.

Rezaeipour said Vietnam’s developed manufacturing infrastructure, ports and extensive network of trade agreements — including 17 free trade agreements with other countries — mean the country could also serve as a gateway for Iranian products into ASEAN and wider East Asian markets.

Vietnam’s total foreign trade increased from around $786 billion in 2024 to approximately $930 billion in 2025, with exports reaching around $475 billion and imports standing at about $455 billion, he said.

“These figures show that Vietnam is a very large and highly competitive market on a global scale,” Rezaeipour said, adding that an effective Iranian presence requires diversification of exports, greater emphasis on value-added products, detailed knowledge of market demand, sustained participation by Iranian companies in Vietnamese exhibitions, and improvements in transport and banking infrastructure.

Iran’s export potential estimated at $4 billion

Rezaeipour said studies conducted by the Iran Chamber of Commerce estimate Iran’s potential exports to Vietnam at around $4 billion.

“One of the most important achievements over the past two years has been increasing the diversity of Iranian exports to Vietnam and moving away from limited exports mainly based on primary commodities toward a broader range of products with higher added value,” he said.

Iran’s export basket has expanded to around 45 tariff codes during this period, reflecting the gradual entry of new product groups into the Vietnamese market.

Rezaeipour said sustainable access to the Vietnamese market cannot depend solely on a handful of traditional export items and that Iran needs to move increasingly toward industrial products, processed minerals, agricultural and food products, and other higher-value goods.

He said another major objective over the past two years has been to raise Iranian exports to Vietnam to $2 billion, a target also included in the document adopted at the ninth joint economic commission meeting between the two countries.

Achieving that target, he said, will require continued diversification of exports, identifying major Vietnamese importers and distribution networks, increasing the presence of Iranian small and medium-sized enterprises, and resolving transport, banking and standards-related obstacles.

“These issues are being pursued seriously and according to a clear plan,” he said.

Rezaeipour noted that with Vietnam’s foreign trade reaching about $930 billion in 2025, even $2 billion in Iranian exports would account for only a small share of the market.

“Therefore, the $2 billion target should be regarded more as an initial step toward establishing a sustainable presence and gradually increasing Iran’s share of the Vietnamese market,” he said.

Iran secures approval to export dairy products

Rezaeipour said securing authorization for Iranian dairy exports to Vietnam was one of the most important and relatively unprecedented achievements of the past two years.

“For the first time, permission to export Iranian dairy products was obtained from Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development,” he said.

He said the approval was secured with support from the Vietnam Dairy Association and through sustained efforts by the Iranian Embassy and the Trade Promotion Organization of Iran.

Entry of food products, particularly dairy products, into Vietnam requires compliance with strict health, veterinary, quarantine and standards procedures, he noted.

Obtaining the authorization has therefore both paved the way for Iranian dairy exports and provided an opportunity to introduce the capabilities of Iran’s dairy industry to the Vietnamese market.

Rezaeipour also referred to the first exhibition dedicated to Iranian dairy products within Hanoi Expo 2026, where five major Iranian dairy brands participated.

He said the event helped strengthen Iran’s commercial image and branding among Vietnamese businesses, while allowing Iranian companies to showcase their capabilities, establish direct contact with importers and distributors, and identify new commercial opportunities.

Iranian apples gain access to Vietnamese market

The commercial counselor also announced that authorization has been obtained for Iranian apples to enter the Vietnamese market.

He said the process was pursued through continued efforts by the Trade Promotion Organization of Iran, the Foreign Ministry and the Iran Chamber of Commerce.

“Given Iran’s substantial capacity in horticultural production, the entry of Iranian apples could mark the beginning of expanded exports of other agricultural and horticultural products to Vietnam and contribute to the diversification of Iran’s non-oil exports,” he said.

Rezaeipour said groundwork has also been laid for Iranian medical equipment to enter Vietnam for the first time.

He said medical and specialized equipment is particularly important because it belongs to a category of technology-intensive and higher-value-added exports.

Further development in this sector will require identifying specialized importers and distributors, registering Iranian products, obtaining the necessary licenses, and establishing direct links between Iranian companies and Vietnamese medical centers and equipment suppliers.

Iranian food products reach Vietnamese store shelves

Rezaeipour said Iranian biscuits and other food products have also entered the Vietnamese retail market over the past two years.

“The presence of Iranian products on Vietnamese store shelves has significance beyond the initial value of exports because it creates awareness of Iranian brands among end consumers,” he said.

He added that this could pave the way for additional Iranian products, including confectionery, chocolate, nuts, processed agricultural products and other food items.

SMEs seen as key to expanding bilateral trade

Rezaeipour stressed the role of small and medium-sized enterprises in expanding trade between Iran and Vietnam.

“One of our important approaches during this period has been encouraging Iranian and Vietnamese SMEs to play a more active role in bilateral trade,” he said.

He said the strategy had become even more important given the difficult economic environment and crises of the past two years, and had resulted in increased direct interaction between businesses from the two countries and gradual diversification of Iranian exports.

“The experience of the Vietnamese market shows that alongside government negotiations, developing business-to-business relations, creating networks of importers and distributors, and ensuring the continuous presence of SMEs at exhibitions in both countries can play a decisive role in stabilizing and expanding Iranian exports,” he said.

Iran expands bitumen, petrochemical exports

Rezaeipour said significant progress has also been made in energy and petrochemical trade, particularly in diversifying Iran’s oil and petrochemical export basket and developing the Vietnamese market for Iranian bitumen.

Iranian bitumen exports to Vietnam have reached around 600,000 metric tons, worth approximately $240 million, for the first time, he said.

“This can be considered one of the most significant examples of developing a specialized market for Iranian products in Vietnam,” he said.

Given Vietnam’s continuing need to expand transport infrastructure, road construction and development projects, Rezaeipour said the country’s bitumen market still offers substantial opportunities for Iranian companies.

He said the commercial office has also focused on shifting exports toward higher-value industrial and mineral products rather than simply increasing export volumes.

Products being targeted include building stone, RPO oil, carbon black, aluminum, base oils and other industrial and mineral goods with a variety of applications.

“Our approach over the past two years has not been limited to increasing the volume of exports,” Rezaeipour said. “Improving the quality, diversity and added value of Iran’s export basket has also been one of our main priorities.”

Direct flights expected to boost trade and tourism

Rezaeipour said the development of air transport infrastructure is another major initiative expected to support trade and tourism between the two countries.

Under current plans, Mahan Air is scheduled to launch its first flight from Tehran to one of Vietnam’s commercial hubs on Aug. 30, 2026.

He said the direct air route could have a significant impact on bilateral trade, tourism, air cargo and direct interaction between business communities.

“Regular direct flights can significantly reduce the cost and duration of business travel, increase commercial meetings, facilitate economic delegations and boost tourism between the two countries,” he said.

Rezaeipour also pointed to Vietnam’s outbound tourism potential, noting that official figures recorded around 9.7 million departures by Vietnamese citizens in 2025.

Iran, he said, could target a larger share of that market by promoting its historical, cultural, natural and medical tourism attractions.

Regional competitors strengthen presence in Vietnam

Rezaeipour said Iranian policymakers and businesses must continuously monitor regional and non-regional competitors operating in Vietnam.

With foreign trade approaching $930 billion, Vietnam offers significant opportunities for Iran, but active participation by competitors — particularly the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Qatar — makes a coherent, long-term Iranian strategy increasingly important, he said.

Iran’s key competitive advantages include its diversified energy and petrochemical resources, mineral products, agricultural output, food industries, medical equipment and ability to manufacture competitively priced industrial goods.

At the same time, he identified geographical distance, transportation costs, banking restrictions, limited awareness of Iranian brands among Vietnamese consumers and established commercial networks belonging to regional competitors as the principal challenges facing Iranian businesses.

Iran develops trade roadmap for Vietnam, ASEAN

Rezaeipour said a roadmap has been drawn up to expand trade with Vietnam and other ASEAN countries.

The strategy includes increasing the number of tariff lines, boosting exports of higher-value-added goods, and consolidating markets for products that have recently gained access, including dairy products, apples, foodstuffs, medical equipment, building stones, industrial oils, carbon black and petrochemical products.

Another objective is to establish a sustainable network of Vietnamese importers, distributors and retail chains for Iranian products.

The roadmap also calls for expanding regular direct flights and using air transportation simultaneously to support both trade and tourism.

Rezaeipour said Iran also aims to use Vietnam as a platform for entering ASEAN and East Asian markets and integrating Iranian products into global supply chains.

He further emphasized the need to encourage Iranian knowledge-based and technology companies to enter Vietnam.

“Iranian knowledge-based and technology companies should be encouraged to enter the Vietnamese market, which is eager for technologies available in Iran,” he said.

‘Transition toward higher-value exports’

Summing up developments over the past two years, Rezaeipour said the period could be viewed as a transition from trade dominated by raw materials and primary commodities toward higher-value-added products.

It has also been a period of export diversification, market development and the creation of new infrastructure for Iran’s long-term presence in the Vietnamese economy, he said.

“Continuing this path, particularly by taking advantage of direct flights, expanding private-sector links and increasing the presence of Iranian products in Vietnam’s distribution networks, can create the conditions for reaching the $2 billion export target and subsequently exceeding it,” Rezaeipour said.

He reiterated that studies by the Iran Chamber of Commerce estimate Iran’s current export potential to Vietnam at around $4 billion.

“With the continuation of market-development programs, Iran can significantly increase its share of the Vietnamese market,” he concluded.