Sasanian economy

[1][2] The main exports of the Sasanians were silk; woolen and golden textiles; carpets and rugs; hides; and leather and pearls from the Persian Gulf.

There were also goods in transit from China (paper, silk) and India (spices), which Sasanian customs imposed taxes upon, and which were re-exported from the Empire to Europe.

We know that in the early Sasanian period, the empire showed a great interest in establishing ports on the coast of the Persian Gulf.

There were other ports on the Iranian side of the Persian Gulf in the Sassanid period, like Sirāf, Hormuz, Kujaran Artaxšīr, etc.

[4] Procopius states that Justinian sent and embassy to Axum, and requested the Ethiopians "that they should buy silk from the Indians, and sell it to the Romans.

[4] The main economic activity in the cities was performed by the merchants (Middle Persian: wāzarganan) and took place in the bazaars.

[7] The function of the workers is this: that they would not engage in a work with which they are not familiar and do well and with precision what they know, and receive a fair wage.We also know about establishments of Sasanian colony and ports as far as East Asia.