Importing goods from Japan to Iran; tricks and solutions
The Japanese economy is one of the largest and most advanced in the world. Given Japan's population and extensive use of technology, Japan is a powerful economic hub with large markets and diverse products in the world. One of the outstanding features of the Japanese economy is its superiority in the field of technology and innovation. Japan is known as an important and global industrial power in fields such as automobiles, electronics, robotics, nanotechnology and advanced medical devices. Large and famous companies such as Sony, Panasonic and Toshiba are among the successful brands of this country. The Japanese automotive industry is also known as one of the largest industries in this country and produces high-quality and advanced cars. Companies such as Toyota, Honda, Nissan and Subaru export a variety of high-quality Japanese cars to other countries. Japan is also known as a leading country in the electronics and information technology industry and exports advanced electronic products such as televisions, cameras, mobile phones and their accessories to other countries.

In fact, in the field of international trade, Japan is one of the largest exporters and importers of goods in the world. Due to the use of advanced technology, skilled labor, and strong infrastructure, Japan is known as a leading exporter of various manufactured products in the global market. In 2023, Japan was recognized as the fourth largest economy in the world in terms of GDP. One of the attractive features of imports from this country is the reasonable price of various products and goods. In Japan, due to the boom in production and GDP of $ 5 trillion and very high economic power, as well as very low inflation, the prices of goods are very reasonable. Also, raw materials and labor in this country are less expensive, which is one of the reasons for the balanced price of goods produced in Japan.
Importing goods from Japan
In the era of globalization and the development of international trade, importing goods from other countries is considered an important way to meet the needs of domestic markets. In this regard, Japan, as one of the countries known for producing high-quality and advanced products, comes as a suitable source for importing goods to Iran.
Of course, due to the economic sanctions imposed on Iran, some goods and services are not imported directly from Japan to Iran. In such circumstances, companies use intermediary countries and indirect methods to circumvent the sanctions to import goods to Iran. In the case of imports from Japan, a large volume of these imports is made through the UAE and the city of Dubai, in which Iranian companies and merchants declare Dubai as the primary destination for the delivery of goods from Japan and, after receiving the shipment in Dubai, re-export it to Iran. This method is usually known as indirect import or redistribution of goods. In this method, the Iranian company or merchant concludes a contract with the manufacturer or seller in Japan for the delivery of goods in Dubai. Then, the goods are shipped to Dubai via sea freight or air freight and are received in Dubai. After the goods are imported to Dubai, the goods are then transported from Dubai to Iran. For this reason, in Iran’s import statistics, imports from Dubai (UAE) are considered as the country of origin instead of imports from Japan.

Best Imported Goods from Japan to Iran
Japan has achieved a leading position in the world in terms of technology, innovation, and production quality. Iran is one of the countries that imports various goods from Japan. These goods include a variety of products that are capable of meeting domestic demand. For example, cars made in Japan are very popular in the Iranian market due to their high quality, modern design, and advanced capabilities. Below we introduce some of the most popular and best imported goods from Japan:
- Car
- Electronic devices
- Automotive parts and spare parts
- Iron or steel
- Motor vehicles
- Synthetic fibers
- Chemicals and raw materials for factories
Benefits of importing goods from Japan
The benefits of importing from Japan to a country come down to two basic factors:
- Distance from Japan to that country
- The existence of trade and political relations between the two countries
Japan is one of the largest economies in the world after the United States, China, and Germany. The Japanese market is known as a reliable and stable market by observing laws and intellectual property rights. This makes international companies and manufacturers interested in importing from Japan. Japanese products generally have very strict standards and strict quality control is carried out on them, which is why one of the characteristics of Japanese goods is the high quality of this country’s products. This makes importers more confident in considering this country’s products as the first option for importing goods from Japan.
Japan’s exports in the field of marine and fishery products have made this country one of the world’s largest exporters in this field. Also, the presence of famous companies and global brands in Japan is another advantage of importing from this country. These companies are known as top examples in various industries such as electronics, automotive, machinery, home appliances, etc. Importing products from these companies allows the best and highest quality products to be imported into the country. The advantages of importing goods from Japan include the following:
- High quality and standards of goods
- Use of advanced technologies in production
- Product diversity
- Gaining credibility through business relations with Japan
- Support for intellectual property rights (eliminating concerns about importing counterfeit goods)
Cargo transportation from Japan to Iran
For cargo transportation from Japan to Iran, various transportation methods can be used, which can be used depending on the type of cargo, distance and transportation costs. Common methods of cargo transportation from Japan to Iran:
Air cargo transportation: Air transportation is one of the fastest and most effective methods of cargo transportation. This method is suitable for cargo that requires quick delivery or cargo that is small in volume. Using air transportation, your cargo will be transported from Japan to Iran in the shortest possible time. However, it should be noted that currently, Japan’s trade relations with Iran are severely affected by international sanctions and have affected the direct transportation of cargo to the country. As mentioned, cargo transported from Japan to Iran usually enters the country through air transportation companies via Dubai and using the Switch B/L method. SEPEX Air Transportation Services provides air cargo transportation services from Japan to Iran in various ways through its connection with a wide network of international flights.
Sea Freight: Shipping cargo from Japan to Iran using cargo ships is also a common method. This method is used for transporting heavy and larger cargoes because it is less expensive than air freight. Sea freight takes longer than air freight.

Japan International Airports for Air Cargo
Japan’s international airports serve as the main entry and exit hubs for passengers and air cargo in Japan and play an important role in facilitating international trade, tourism, and communication between countries. Also, given the importance of these airports, transportation infrastructure and related facilities are also continuously developed. The most famous airports in Japan in the air transportation industry are:
Narita International Airport: It is one of the most important and busiest airports in Japan. This airport is located in Chiba Prefecture and is known as the main gateway to Tokyo and the Kanto region in Japan. Narita is known as one of the busiest international airports in the world and receives a large volume of international passengers.
Narita is also an important airport for cargo transportation. Through this airport, a large volume of goods and air cargo is sent to different regions of the world.
Kansai Airport: Kansai Airport is located in Osaka Prefecture and is known as one of the most important airports in Japan. This airport has an artificial island built on the sea and is known as a unique architectural engineering. Kansai Airport is also very important in terms of passenger volume and the volume of imported and exported goods.
Fukuoka Airport: The airport of Fukuoka is located on the island of Kyushu. This airport is one of the most important airports in southern Japan and plays an important role in the tourism and trade industry of this region.
Haneda Airport: Located in the Tokyo area and is known as one of the two main airports in Tokyo. Haneda Airport is considered one of the busiest airports in the world and is very important for domestic and international transportation of passengers and goods due to its location near the center of Tokyo.

Clearance of goods from Japan
Customs clearance is one of the key steps in the process of importing goods into the country. This process includes providing the required documents and information to customs, paying the relevant fees, and obtaining the necessary permits to import goods. Customs has its own rules and regulations that you must be familiar with in order to be able to clear your goods correctly and eliminate any problems, including smuggling and financial penalties. Importing goods from Japan requires full knowledge and awareness of the terms and conditions of this process. Compliance with all rules and regulations related to customs and importing goods from Japan is essential to complete the process correctly and without problems.
Given the complexity of this process, traders and merchants applying for import from Japan can use the services of the international shipping company Sepex. Sepex specialists with the necessary expertise and experience in the field of customs clearance can handle matters related to clearance of goods in a professional and accurate manner. By using SEPEX services in various fields of importing into the country, you can save time and costs associated with clearance and focus on other aspects of your business.
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Frequently asked questions
If you need advice, fill out the request form and our experts will contact you as soon as possible.
It is mandatory to provide an invoice, bill of lading, certificate of origin, certificate, license, etc. when importing from Japan.
Air freight shipping is one of the fastest methods of transportation and is used for time-sensitive or time-critical goods. High security for the cargo to reach its destination is another advantage of air freight shipping from Japan.
Chemicals, military equipment, communication and radio equipment, weapons and ammunition, products under embargo, drugs and raw materials for their production, food and pharmaceuticals are among the items whose entry into the country from Japan is prohibited or restricted.
The cost of importing goods from Japan to the country includes the purchase of goods, insurance costs, freight transportation to Iran, and customs and clearance costs.