Iran Energy Exports 11-30-25

In 2025, Iran's oil exports have averaged around 1.7 million to 1.8 million barrels per day, peaking above

1.9 million bpd in September, and natural gas exports have declined in value and volume compared to the previous year.

 Oil exports have maintained high levels despite sanctions due to a combination of factors, including a "shadow fleet" of tankers and established buyers in China and other Asian markets. Natural gas exports have fallen due to factors like sanctions and regional tensions, though specific volume data is less consistent. 

Oil exports 

Average 2025 exports: Iran's oil exports averaged about 1.7 million to 1.8 million barrels per day during the first half of 2025, according to Financial Tribune and TradeImeX.

Peak performance: Exports surged to over1.9 million barrels per day in September 2025, the highest level in over six years.

Reasons for resilience: This sustained export level is attributed to a mature "shadow fleet" of tankers, ship-to-ship transfers, regional pipeline deals, and a strong buyer network, particularly in China. 

Natural gas exports 

2025 performance: Iran's natural gas exports have declined. For the first seven months of the Iranian year (March 21 to October 22, 2025), exports fell by about 24.8% in volume compared to the same period in 2024, reports Trend News Agency.

Contributing factors: Factors like sanctions, regional tensions, and the redirection of funds towards military spending are believed to have contributed to this decline.

Specific deliveries: Despite the overall decline, some specific deliveries have still occurred, such as a shipment of over 17,000 metric tons of Iranian LPG to Bangladesh in early 2025, according to the U.S. Department of the Treasury. 

In 2025, Iran's oil exports have averaged approximately 1.6 to 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd), primarily to China, despite ongoing international sanctions. Iran is currently not a significant exporter of natural gas via pipeline or as Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), though it does export some Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). 

Oil Exports

Iran's oil exports in 2025 have shown resilience and even reached multi-year highs despite a complex geopolitical landscape, including US sanctions and regional tensions. 

Average Volume: Across the first three quarters of 2025, average daily crude and condensate exports have fluctuated, but generally remained in the range of 1.6 to 1.8 million bpd.

Recent Highs: In September 2025, exports surged to a high of over 1.9 million bpd, a level not seen since mid-2018.

Main Destination: The overwhelming majority (over 85%) of Iran's oil exports are sent to China, often via a "shadow fleet" of tankers that use techniques like ship-to-ship transfers to evade sanctions.

Sanctions Impact: The continued high export volumes underscore the effectiveness of Iran's methods for bypassing sanctions, though U.S. authorities have announced new measures targeting these networks in October and November 2025. Forecasts suggest exports could be pressured downwards if sanctions enforcement tightens under the new U.S. administration. 

Natural Gas Exports

Iran possesses some of the world's largest natural gas reserves but has limited export capacity due to underinvestment and sanctions. 

Pipeline Gas: Iran is a regional pipeline gas supplier, but it is not a major global exporter.

https://www.google.com/search?q=what+are+Iran%27s+oil+and+natural+gas+exports+in+2025

Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader