Tag Archives | grain

Record Wheat Crop, but Imports Still Needed

By John Schnittker, Chief Economist at Schnittker Associates, and former Ministry Advisor at the US Embassy in Baghdad. Iraq’s first tender to purchase wheat on the international market since mid-May 2013 reflects that despite a record wheat crop Iraq remains a major importer of wheat and flour products. Iraq’s 2013 wheat crop of nearly 4.0 […]

Iraq Buys 250,000t of Wheat from Russia

The Iraqi Grain Board has reportedly bought 250,000 tons of wheat from Russia. Aswat Al Iraq says the purchase was made following a bid to buy 500,000 tons of wheat, which was closed last week. According to Russia Today News Agency, the shipments will be made between 1st and 31st July, 2013, and delivered in […]

Wheat Harvest Threatened by Heavy Rains

By John Schnittker, Chief Economist at Schnittker Associates, and former Ministry Advisor at the US Embassy in Baghdad. Heavy rainfall over the southern provinces of Iraq during early May has potentially reduced Iraq’s expected wheat harvest by 25-30% according to a statement by Trade Minister, Dr. Khairallah Hassan Babiker. Initial reports indicate that losses are […]

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Iraq Raises Grain Prices

Iraq has increased prices it pays to its wheat, barley and rice growers, reports Azzaman. Kareem Elaywi, a parliamentarian in the Water and Agriculture Commission, said farmers shipping their produce to government silos will receive 900,000 dinars for a ton of wheat, 750,000 dinars for a ton of barley and 1 million dinars for a ton […]

Wheat Harvest Exceeds 3m Tons

By John Lee. Azzaman reports that wheat production in 2012 rose to 3.26 million tons, despite a lack of rain.The harvest had fallen to an average 1.5 million tons in the years follow the US-led invasion in 2003, with the country becoming a net importer of wheat and other cereals. Deputy Agriculture Minister Mahdi al-Qaisi […]

Iraq Buys 350,000 Tons of Wheat

By John Lee. Iraq’s state grains board has purchased a total of 350,000 tons of wheat from Australia, Russia and Canada in a tender for a nominal 50,000 tons which closed last week: 200,000 tons of Australian wheat purchased from Glencore at $404.89 cif; 50,000 tons of Russian wheat, also from Glencore, at $399 a tonne […]

Iraq Makes no Purchase in 50,000 ton Wheat Tender

The Iraqi Ministry for Trade has made no purchase in a tender for at least 50,000 tonnes of wheat, according to a report from Reuters. The tender for wheat of any origin had closed on 1st October, with offers having to stay valid until 5th October. A source at the trade ministry gave no reason […]

Iraqi Wheat Crop Largest in 30 Years

By John Lee. Iraq's wheat crop is the biggest for 30 years, according to Amer Abdulaziz, Director General of Iraq Grain Board. Despite 'discouraging weather conditions' Iraqi farmers have shipped 1.9 million tons of wheat to government silos, reports Azzaman. Bloomberg quotes planning ministry spokesman Abdul Zahra al-Hindawi as saying that Iraq’s wheat output rose 7 […]

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Former AWB Boss Fined in Oil-for-Food Scandal

By John Lee. The former managing director of Australian wheat exporter AWB has been fined 100,000 Australian dollars ($106,000) and banned from being a company director for two years for his role in paying kickbacks to Iraq's former dictatorship under the discredited UN oil-for-food program. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the breaches related to […]

Wheat Production up by Only 5% This Year

By John Lee. Iraq's Trade Minister, Khayrulla Hassan [Khayri-allah Babakir, Dr Khairallah Hassan Babiker] (pictured) has said that 100,000 tons more of wheat will be produced in Iraq than in 2011. According to the report from AKnews, 1.75 million tons of wheat were produced last year, and this is expected to rise to 1.85 million […]

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Iraq Buys 100,000 Tons of Rice

A source in the Iraqi trade ministry told Reuters on Thursday that Iraq bought 100,000 tonnes of rice from Argentina, Uruguay and Thailand following a tender that closed on 10th June: 30,000 tonnes will be sourced from Argentina; 30,000 tonnes from Uruguay; and, Commodity trading firm Olam International will supply Iraq with the 40,000 tonnes […]