According to SHADA, the province exported 858,000 metric tons of goods during the period, up 19% year on year, while imports reached $111 million, with the volume of imported goods rising 70% to 58,000 tons.

Rouhollah Solbi, director general of Golestan’s Department of Economic Affairs and Finance, said the simultaneous increase in the value and volume of exports reflected the province’s continued capacity to supply international markets and provided scope for expanding its export destinations and increasing its contribution to Iran’s foreign trade.

According to customs data cited by the official, Golestan’s exports reached 21 foreign markets during the Iranian year ended March 19, 2026, while imports were sourced from 20 countries, highlighting the province’s diversified trade links.

Solbi said the increase in imports, particularly in volume, could partly reflect the supply of raw materials, intermediate goods and equipment required by local production and other economic activities.

Imports rise sharply in first four months of 2026

Golestan’s import growth continued into the first four months of the current Iranian year, which began on March 20, 2026.

Imports reached $52.8 million during the four months, up 59% from the corresponding period a year earlier. Import volumes rose 42% to 31,900 tons, according to the provincial official.

Exports, however, showed a different trend. Golestan exported $111.2 million worth of goods during the same four-month period, with shipments totaling 252,000 tons.

Export value fell 21% year on year, while export volume declined 3%. Despite the decline, Solbi said the province had maintained more than $111 million in exports during the first four months of the year, underscoring its continued role in Iran’s international trade.

Diverse export base

Golestan’s main export products include cheese, particleboard, iodine, pipes and profiles, and pistachios, according to the provincial Department of Economic Affairs and Finance.

The range of exported products indicates that the province’s export capacity extends across several sectors rather than being concentrated in a single industry.

Imports are mainly associated with production needs, which include crude soybean oil, various soybean products, automated hot-rolling equipment for reinforcing bars, and industrial machinery and equipment.

The composition of imports suggests that a significant portion of inbound trade is directed toward supplying production chains and supporting industrial activity in the province.

Focus on higher-value exports and logistics

Solbi said Golestan has significant potential in agriculture, food processing, wood products, mining and industrial production, while its location along regional transportation and trade routes provides additional opportunities to expand its role in international commerce.

He called for the development of new export markets, completion of domestic value chains, greater value added in exported products and improvements in transportation and logistics infrastructure.

The provincial official stated that the sustained growth in exports for the year ending March 19, 2026, along with the significant rise in imports during the first four months of the current Iranian year, showcases Golestan’s economy's potential to engage more actively in international trade.

He added that expanding target markets, supporting exporters, and removing trade barriers could help the province increase foreign-exchange earnings, strengthen domestic production, and create new economic opportunities.