Iraq Business News brings you the latest Iraq Industry & Trade News, with information on developments and opportunities.
By John Lee. Yolk Brands, the UAE-based hospitality group behind Pickl and BonBird, has reportedly announced its expansion into Iraq under a new agreement with Al Maysarah Holding. The agreement provides for the opening of five Pickl restaurants and ten BonBird outlets. The first locations are scheduled to open in Q2 2026 at Iraq Mall […]
From Amwaj Media. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Beleaguered by low oil prices, Iraq moves to curtail customs evasion A new scheme aimed at combating customs evasion has triggered nationwide protests and strikes in Iraq. Traders say the new regulations have […]
By John Lee. The General Company for Food Products, part of Iraq's Ministry of Industry and Minerals, has begun exporting its products to neighbouring markets, starting with a shipment of cooking oil to Jordan. The company confirmed that the first shipment of 'Al-Bint' branded cooking oil, produced at the Imam Ali Al-Hadi plant in Maysan […]
By John Lee. Iraq's General Customs Authority has approved new mechanisms for calculating the customs value of imported goods. The mechanisms will be applied across all customs centres and include the following measures: Adoption of the customs value stated in duly declared commercial invoices submitted under the advance declaration system, supported by bank transfers, at […]
By John Lee. Transparency International has said that Iraq has improved its ranking and score in the global Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) for 2025. From a total of 182 countries, Iraq came in at number 136, up 4 places on the previous year. And from a score of 16 in 2013, 2014 and 2015, Iraq […]
By John Lee. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has launched the e-Psule platform, a unified digital system for issuing government payment receipts, as part of efforts to modernise public financial services and reduce reliance on cash-based and paper processes. The platform has been officially approved by the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) and is designed […]
By John Lee. The General Company for Iraqi Cement, part of Iraq's Ministry of Industry and Minerals, has reported a notable increase in production across several of its plants during 2025. According to the company, the Babil Cement Plant recorded production growth of more than 13 percent compared with 2024, driven by higher output of […]
Two Mega Venues, One Commercial Powerhouse: Gulfood 2026 Delivers Record Global Trade Impact Five days of deal-making, buyer engagement and market expansion positioned Gulfood 2026 as the world's most powerful food trade platform In January 2026, Dubai made global exhibition history as Gulfood, the world's largest annual food and beverage sourcing event, successfully delivered a […]
From Kurdistan24. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Traders Shut Markets Across Iraq in Protest Over New Customs Tariffs Widespread strikes erupt in Baghdad, Mosul, Kirkuk, and Basra as merchants warn of soaring prices, collapsing trade, and growing social unrest. Click here […]
09By John Lee. Iraq's Industrial Coordination Council has approved a series of measures aimed at supporting industrial operations, infrastructure use, and fuel transition for manufacturing facilities. The Council approved the use of specialised berths (10 and 11) at Khor Al-Zubair Port to support the operation of a sponge iron plant, in line with the plant's […]
By John Lee. The Ministry of Electricity has launched the first phase of its smart transformation and electronic billing project, covering selected areas of Baghdad and several provinces. The Ministry said the areas included in the initial phase were chosen following studies of electricity networks, loads, feeders, and subscriber data. According to a Ministry spokesperson, […]
By John Lee. Recent media reports have flagged up the growing gap between the official dinar exchange rate and its value in the informal market - see here and here. In his latest monthly investment report for Iraq Business News, Ahmed Tabaqchali attributes the fall in the dinar to the behaviour of certain importers following […]
