diff --git a/src/libstore/export-import.cc b/src/libstore/export-import.cc
index a343b5837db..f54ef174599 100644
--- a/src/libstore/export-import.cc
+++ b/src/libstore/export-import.cc
@@ -5,91 +5,112 @@
 #include "nix/store/common-protocol.hh"
 #include "nix/store/common-protocol-impl.hh"
 
-#include <algorithm>
-
 namespace nix {
 
-static void exportPath(Store & store, const StorePath & path, Sink & sink)
-{
-    auto info = store.queryPathInfo(path);
-
-    HashSink hashSink(HashAlgorithm::SHA256);
-    TeeSink teeSink(sink, hashSink);
-
-    store.narFromPath(path, teeSink);
-
-    /* Refuse to export paths that have changed.  This prevents
-       filesystem corruption from spreading to other machines.
-       Don't complain if the stored hash is zero (unknown). */
-    Hash hash = hashSink.currentHash().hash;
-    if (hash != info->narHash && info->narHash != Hash(info->narHash.algo))
-        throw Error(
-            "hash of path '%s' has changed from '%s' to '%s'!",
-            store.printStorePath(path),
-            info->narHash.to_string(HashFormat::Nix32, true),
-            hash.to_string(HashFormat::Nix32, true));
-
-    teeSink << exportMagic << store.printStorePath(path);
-    CommonProto::write(store, CommonProto::WriteConn{.to = teeSink}, info->references);
-    teeSink << (info->deriver ? store.printStorePath(*info->deriver) : "") << 0;
-}
+static const uint32_t exportMagicV1 = 0x4558494e;
 
-void exportPaths(Store & store, const StorePathSet & paths, Sink & sink)
+void exportPaths(Store & store, const StorePathSet & paths, Sink & sink, unsigned int version)
 {
     auto sorted = store.topoSortPaths(paths);
     std::reverse(sorted.begin(), sorted.end());
 
-    for (auto & path : sorted) {
-        sink << 1;
-        exportPath(store, path, sink);
+    auto dumpNar = [&](const ValidPathInfo & info) {
+        HashSink hashSink(HashAlgorithm::SHA256);
+        TeeSink teeSink(sink, hashSink);
+
+        store.narFromPath(info.path, teeSink);
+
+        /* Refuse to export paths that have changed.  This prevents
+           filesystem corruption from spreading to other machines.
+           Don't complain if the stored hash is zero (unknown). */
+        Hash hash = hashSink.currentHash().hash;
+        if (hash != info.narHash && info.narHash != Hash(info.narHash.algo))
+            throw Error(
+                "hash of path '%s' has changed from '%s' to '%s'!",
+                store.printStorePath(info.path),
+                info.narHash.to_string(HashFormat::Nix32, true),
+                hash.to_string(HashFormat::Nix32, true));
+    };
+
+    switch (version) {
+
+    case 1:
+        for (auto & path : sorted) {
+            sink << 1;
+            auto info = store.queryPathInfo(path);
+            dumpNar(*info);
+            sink << exportMagicV1 << store.printStorePath(path);
+            CommonProto::write(store, CommonProto::WriteConn{.to = sink}, info->references);
+            sink << (info->deriver ? store.printStorePath(*info->deriver) : "") << 0;
+        }
+        sink << 0;
+        break;
+
+    default:
+        throw Error("unsupported nario version %d", version);
     }
-
-    sink << 0;
 }
 
 StorePaths importPaths(Store & store, Source & source, CheckSigsFlag checkSigs)
 {
     StorePaths res;
-    while (true) {
-        auto n = readNum<uint64_t>(source);
-        if (n == 0)
-            break;
-        if (n != 1)
-            throw Error("input doesn't look like something created by 'nix-store --export'");
-
-        /* Extract the NAR from the source. */
-        StringSink saved;
-        TeeSource tee{source, saved};
-        NullFileSystemObjectSink ether;
-        parseDump(ether, tee);
-
-        uint32_t magic = readInt(source);
-        if (magic != exportMagic)
-            throw Error("Nix archive cannot be imported; wrong format");
-
-        auto path = store.parseStorePath(readString(source));
-
-        // Activity act(*logger, lvlInfo, "importing path '%s'", info.path);
-
-        auto references = CommonProto::Serialise<StorePathSet>::read(store, CommonProto::ReadConn{.from = source});
-        auto deriver = readString(source);
-        auto narHash = hashString(HashAlgorithm::SHA256, saved.s);
-
-        ValidPathInfo info{path, narHash};
-        if (deriver != "")
-            info.deriver = store.parseStorePath(deriver);
-        info.references = references;
-        info.narSize = saved.s.size();
-
-        // Ignore optional legacy signature.
-        if (readInt(source) == 1)
-            readString(source);
-
-        // Can't use underlying source, which would have been exhausted
-        auto source = StringSource(saved.s);
-        store.addToStore(info, source, NoRepair, checkSigs);
-
-        res.push_back(info.path);
+
+    auto version = readNum<uint64_t>(source);
+
+    /* Note: nario version 1 lacks an explicit header. The first
+       integer denotes whether a store path follows or not. So look
+       for 0 or 1. */
+    switch (version) {
+
+    case 0:
+        /* Empty version 1 nario, nothing to do. */
+        break;
+
+    case 1:
+        /* Non-empty version 1 nario. */
+        while (true) {
+            /* Extract the NAR from the source. */
+            StringSink saved;
+            TeeSource tee{source, saved};
+            NullFileSystemObjectSink ether;
+            parseDump(ether, tee);
+
+            uint32_t magic = readInt(source);
+            if (magic != exportMagicV1)
+                throw Error("nario cannot be imported; wrong format");
+
+            auto path = store.parseStorePath(readString(source));
+
+            auto references = CommonProto::Serialise<StorePathSet>::read(store, CommonProto::ReadConn{.from = source});
+            auto deriver = readString(source);
+            auto narHash = hashString(HashAlgorithm::SHA256, saved.s);
+
+            ValidPathInfo info{path, narHash};
+            if (deriver != "")
+                info.deriver = store.parseStorePath(deriver);
+            info.references = references;
+            info.narSize = saved.s.size();
+
+            // Ignore optional legacy signature.
+            if (readInt(source) == 1)
+                readString(source);
+
+            // Can't use underlying source, which would have been exhausted.
+            auto source2 = StringSource(saved.s);
+            store.addToStore(info, source2, NoRepair, checkSigs);
+
+            res.push_back(info.path);
+
+            auto n = readNum<uint64_t>(source);
+            if (n == 0)
+                break;
+            if (n != 1)
+                throw Error("input doesn't look like a nario");
+        }
+        break;
+
+    default:
+        throw Error("input doesn't look like a nario");
     }
 
     return res;
diff --git a/src/libstore/include/nix/store/export-import.hh b/src/libstore/include/nix/store/export-import.hh
index 15092202f1f..4ea696f992f 100644
--- a/src/libstore/include/nix/store/export-import.hh
+++ b/src/libstore/include/nix/store/export-import.hh
@@ -4,16 +4,11 @@
 
 namespace nix {
 
-/**
- * Magic header of exportPath() output (obsolete).
- */
-const uint32_t exportMagic = 0x4558494e;
-
 /**
  * Export multiple paths in the format expected by `nix-store
  * --import`. The paths will be sorted topologically.
  */
-void exportPaths(Store & store, const StorePathSet & paths, Sink & sink);
+void exportPaths(Store & store, const StorePathSet & paths, Sink & sink, unsigned int version);
 
 /**
  * Import a sequence of NAR dumps created by `exportPaths()` into the
diff --git a/src/nix/meson.build b/src/nix/meson.build
index e989e80164f..d0b8e809caf 100644
--- a/src/nix/meson.build
+++ b/src/nix/meson.build
@@ -87,6 +87,7 @@ nix_sources = [ config_priv_h ] + files(
   'make-content-addressed.cc',
   'man-pages.cc',
   'nar.cc',
+  'nario.cc',
   'optimise-store.cc',
   'path-from-hash-part.cc',
   'path-info.cc',
diff --git a/src/nix/nario-export.md b/src/nix/nario-export.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..1aa124168e3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/nix/nario-export.md
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+R""(
+
+# Examples
+
+* Export the closure of building `nixpkgs#hello`:
+
+  ```console
+  # nix nario export --format 1 -r nixpkgs#hello > dump
+  ```
+
+  It can be imported in another store:
+
+  ```console
+  # nix nario import < dump
+  ```
+
+# Description
+
+This command prints on standard output a serialization of the specified store paths in `nario` format. This serialization can be imported into another store using `nix nario import`.
+
+References of a path are not exported by default; use `-r` to export a complete closure.
+Paths are exported in topographically sorted order (i.e. if path `X` refers to `Y`, then `Y` appears before `X`).
+
+You must specify the desired `nario` version. Currently the following versions are supported:
+
+* `1`: This version is compatible with the legacy `nix-store --export` and `nix-store --import` commands.
+
+)""
diff --git a/src/nix/nario-import.md b/src/nix/nario-import.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..e2781995292
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/nix/nario-import.md
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+R""(
+
+# Examples
+
+* Import store paths from the file named `dump`:
+
+  ```console
+  # nix nario import < dump
+  ```
+
+# Description
+
+This command reads from standard input a serialization of store paths produced by `nix nario export` and adds them to the Nix store.
+
+)""
diff --git a/src/nix/nario-list.md b/src/nix/nario-list.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..80c1f10d7a0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/nix/nario-list.md
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+R""(
+
+# Examples
+
+* List the contents of a nario file:
+
+  ```console
+  # nix nario list < dump
+  /nix/store/4y1jj6cwvslmfh1bzkhbvhx77az6yf00-xgcc-14.2.1.20250322-libgcc: 201856 bytes
+  /nix/store/d8hnbm5hvbg2vza50garppb63y724i94-libunistring-1.3: 2070240 bytes
+  …
+  ```
+
+# Description
+
+This command lists the contents of a nario file read from standard input.
+
+)""
diff --git a/src/nix/nario.cc b/src/nix/nario.cc
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..8e7708833f0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/nix/nario.cc
@@ -0,0 +1,189 @@
+#include "nix/cmd/command.hh"
+#include "nix/main/shared.hh"
+#include "nix/store/store-api.hh"
+#include "nix/store/export-import.hh"
+#include "nix/util/callback.hh"
+#include "nix/util/fs-sink.hh"
+#include "nix/util/archive.hh"
+
+using namespace nix;
+
+struct CmdNario : NixMultiCommand
+{
+    CmdNario()
+        : NixMultiCommand("nario", RegisterCommand::getCommandsFor({"nario"}))
+    {
+    }
+
+    std::string description() override
+    {
+        return "operations for manipulating nario files";
+    }
+
+    Category category() override
+    {
+        return catUtility;
+    }
+};
+
+static auto rCmdNario = registerCommand<CmdNario>("nario");
+
+struct CmdNarioExport : StorePathsCommand
+{
+    unsigned int version = 0;
+
+    CmdNarioExport()
+    {
+        addFlag({
+            .longName = "format",
+            .description = "Version of the nario format to use. Must be `1`.",
+            .labels = {"nario-format"},
+            .handler = {&version},
+        });
+    }
+
+    std::string description() override
+    {
+        return "serialize store paths to standard output in nario format";
+    }
+
+    std::string doc() override
+    {
+        return
+#include "nario-export.md"
+            ;
+    }
+
+    void run(ref<Store> store, StorePaths && storePaths) override
+    {
+        if (!version)
+            throw UsageError("`nix nario export` requires `--format` argument");
+
+        FdSink sink(getStandardOutput());
+        exportPaths(*store, StorePathSet(storePaths.begin(), storePaths.end()), sink, version);
+    }
+};
+
+static auto rCmdNarioExport = registerCommand2<CmdNarioExport>({"nario", "export"});
+
+struct CmdNarioImport : StoreCommand
+{
+    std::string description() override
+    {
+        return "import store paths from a nario file on standard input";
+    }
+
+    std::string doc() override
+    {
+        return
+#include "nario-import.md"
+            ;
+    }
+
+    void run(ref<Store> store) override
+    {
+        FdSource source(getStandardInput());
+        importPaths(*store, source, NoCheckSigs); // FIXME
+    }
+};
+
+static auto rCmdNarioImport = registerCommand2<CmdNarioImport>({"nario", "import"});
+
+struct CmdNarioList : Command
+{
+    std::string description() override
+    {
+        return "list the contents of a nario file";
+    }
+
+    std::string doc() override
+    {
+        return
+#include "nario-list.md"
+            ;
+    }
+
+    void run() override
+    {
+        struct Config : StoreConfig
+        {
+            Config(const Params & params)
+                : StoreConfig(params)
+            {
+            }
+
+            ref<Store> openStore() const override
+            {
+                abort();
+            }
+        };
+
+        struct ListingStore : Store
+        {
+            ListingStore(ref<const Config> config)
+                : Store{*config}
+            {
+            }
+
+            void queryPathInfoUncached(
+                const StorePath & path, Callback<std::shared_ptr<const ValidPathInfo>> callback) noexcept override
+            {
+                callback(nullptr);
+            }
+
+            std::optional<TrustedFlag> isTrustedClient() override
+            {
+                return Trusted;
+            }
+
+            std::optional<StorePath> queryPathFromHashPart(const std::string & hashPart) override
+            {
+                return std::nullopt;
+            }
+
+            void
+            addToStore(const ValidPathInfo & info, Source & source, RepairFlag repair, CheckSigsFlag checkSigs) override
+            {
+                logger->cout(fmt("%s: %d bytes", printStorePath(info.path), info.narSize));
+                // Discard the NAR.
+                NullFileSystemObjectSink parseSink;
+                parseDump(parseSink, source);
+            }
+
+            StorePath addToStoreFromDump(
+                Source & dump,
+                std::string_view name,
+                FileSerialisationMethod dumpMethod,
+                ContentAddressMethod hashMethod,
+                HashAlgorithm hashAlgo,
+                const StorePathSet & references,
+                RepairFlag repair) override
+            {
+                unsupported("addToStoreFromDump");
+            }
+
+            void narFromPath(const StorePath & path, Sink & sink) override
+            {
+                unsupported("narFromPath");
+            }
+
+            void queryRealisationUncached(
+                const DrvOutput &, Callback<std::shared_ptr<const Realisation>> callback) noexcept override
+            {
+                callback(nullptr);
+            }
+
+            ref<SourceAccessor> getFSAccessor(bool requireValidPath) override
+            {
+                return makeEmptySourceAccessor();
+            }
+        };
+
+        FdSource source(getStandardInput());
+        auto config = make_ref<Config>(StoreConfig::Params());
+        ListingStore lister(config);
+        importPaths(lister, source, NoCheckSigs);
+    }
+};
+
+static auto rCmdNarioList = registerCommand2<CmdNarioList>({"nario", "list"});
diff --git a/src/nix/nix-store/nix-store.cc b/src/nix/nix-store/nix-store.cc
index 5f85e06f0b2..9b149cebee8 100644
--- a/src/nix/nix-store/nix-store.cc
+++ b/src/nix/nix-store/nix-store.cc
@@ -775,7 +775,7 @@ static void opExport(Strings opFlags, Strings opArgs)
         paths.insert(store->followLinksToStorePath(i));
 
     FdSink sink(getStandardOutput());
-    exportPaths(*store, paths, sink);
+    exportPaths(*store, paths, sink, 1);
     sink.flush();
 }
 
diff --git a/src/perl/lib/Nix/Store.xs b/src/perl/lib/Nix/Store.xs
index 7aa918ba0c6..0d5a9f57172 100644
--- a/src/perl/lib/Nix/Store.xs
+++ b/src/perl/lib/Nix/Store.xs
@@ -234,7 +234,7 @@ StoreWrapper::exportPaths(int fd, ...)
             StorePathSet paths;
             for (int n = 2; n < items; ++n) paths.insert(THIS->store->parseStorePath(SvPV_nolen(ST(n))));
             FdSink sink(fd);
-            exportPaths(*THIS->store, paths, sink);
+            exportPaths(*THIS->store, paths, sink, 1);
         } catch (Error & e) {
             croak("%s", e.what());
         }
diff --git a/tests/functional/export.sh b/tests/functional/export.sh
index 3e895a5402d..6fe6c9d4e66 100755
--- a/tests/functional/export.sh
+++ b/tests/functional/export.sh
@@ -9,9 +9,14 @@ clearStore
 outPath=$(nix-build dependencies.nix --no-out-link)
 
 nix-store --export $outPath > $TEST_ROOT/exp
+nix nario export --format 1 "$outPath" > $TEST_ROOT/exp2
+cmp "$TEST_ROOT/exp" "$TEST_ROOT/exp2"
 
 nix-store --export $(nix-store -qR $outPath) > $TEST_ROOT/exp_all
 
+nix nario export --format 1 -r "$outPath" > $TEST_ROOT/exp_all2
+cmp "$TEST_ROOT/exp_all" "$TEST_ROOT/exp_all2"
+
 if nix-store --export $outPath >/dev/full ; then
     echo "exporting to a bad file descriptor should fail"
     exit 1
@@ -38,3 +43,13 @@ clearStore
 # Regression test: the derivers in exp_all2 are empty, which shouldn't
 # cause a failure.
 nix-store --import < $TEST_ROOT/exp_all2
+
+
+# Test `nix nario import` on files created by `nix-store --export`.
+clearStore
+nix nario import < $TEST_ROOT/exp_all
+nix path-info "$outPath"
+
+
+# Test `nix nario list`.
+nix nario list < $TEST_ROOT/exp_all | grepQuiet "dependencies-input-0: .* bytes"