Market research

Maize flour and cereals market in Iran

Release date: Mar 30, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

The maize flour and cereals market in Iran experienced volatility from 2018 to 2020. In 2018 and 2019, the market contracted, with volume falling from 243.3 thousand tons to 219.7 thousand tons, due to insufficient government support for market development and unstable currency allocation policies that created price fluctuations. The effective disappearance of directive flour pricing within the bread price stabilization system further pressured producers. However, in 2020, the introduction of new feed price rules based on real currency costs helped stabilize the market, contributing to a recovery in volume to 264.8 thousand tons.

After the rebound, market volume dropped again to 224.8 thousand tons in 2021 as authorities implemented a revised guide price for corn and barley feed following exchange rate adjustments, requiring costly price revisions across the supply chain. The market then grew slightly to 236.8 thousand tons in 2022. It collapsed to 135.0 thousand tons in 2023 under the weight of global corn price surges, supply chain disruptions linked to the war in Ukraine, reduced Brazilian output, and broader geopolitical tensions that sharply raised import costs for Iranian millers.

For 2024, continued pressure from high global food prices and supply chain constraints kept import costs elevated, maintaining a challenging environment for domestic maize flour and cereal production.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Iran
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Iran in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in Iran in value, 2018-2023, $ US
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Imports
1. 6.1. Imports (Direct Data*)
  1. 6.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Iran in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Iran by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Iran in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Iran by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Iran, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Iran by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Iran in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Iran by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Iran in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Iran by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Iran, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Iran by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Exports
1. 7.1. Exports (Direct Data*)
  1. 7.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Iran in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Iran by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Iran in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Iran by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Iran, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Iran by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Iran in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Iran by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Iran in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Iran by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Iran, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Iran by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, K $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production maize flour and cereals in Iran

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of maize flour and cereals, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of maize flour and cereals, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Iran's production of maize flour and cereals reached 278.3 thousand tons in 2020, showing a solid 17.1% increase compared to the previous year. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 28.5%, which translates to an annualized growth rate of 8.7%. The most significant decline occurred in 2019, when production fell by 8.4%, while the largest increase was recorded in 2018 with a 19.7% rise.

Annual dynamics of production in Iran in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	19.7%	(8.4%)	17.1%	8.7%

Source: SHEV.io

In value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Following two years of decline, Iran's maize flour and cereals production rebounded in value terms. In 2020, the output was valued at 56 350 thousand US dollars, marking a 16.7% increase from the previous year. However, over the 2017-2020 period, production value decreased by 13.6%, with a compound annual growth rate of -4.8%. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 48 305 thousand US dollars, which also saw the largest decline of 22.4%.

Annual dynamics of production in Iran in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(4.5%)	(22.4%)	16.7%	(4.8%)

Source: SHEV.io

Exports maize flour and cereals from Iran

Exports in kind, t

After two consecutive years of growth, Iran's maize flour and cereals export volume experienced a decline. In 2020, exports totaled 13 504 tons, representing a 24.5% decrease compared to the previous year. The peak export volume was reached in 2019 at 17 887 tons, while the largest increase occurred in 2018 with a 15.6% rise.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Iran in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	15.6%	12.3%	(24.5%)	(0.7%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Afghanistan was the dominant market for Iran's maize flour and cereals exports in volume terms, accounting for 80.3% of total flows, with other countries making up the remaining share.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Iran in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

Maize flour and cereals exports from Iran declined for the third consecutive year in value terms. In 2020, exports stood at 2 734 thousand US dollars, showing a significant drop of 24.8% compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports decreased by 34.1%, which corresponds to an annualized decline rate of 13.0%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Iran in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(7.8%)	(5.0%)	(24.8%)	(13.0%)

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, Afghanistan was the primary buyer of maize flour and cereals from Iran in value terms, representing 80.0% of total exports, while other countries accounted for the remainder.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Iran in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports maize flour and cereals to Iran

Imports in kind, t

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Iran in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

Throughout the 2017-2020 period, Turkey played a dominant role in maize flour and cereals imports to Iran in volume terms, consistently accounting for 100.0% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Iran in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Iran in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Turkey effectively concentrated all imports of maize flour and cereals to Iran in value terms, maintaining a 100.0% share of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Iran in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io