By John Lee. Iraqi customs revenues are expected to reach 4 trillion dinars ($3.05 billion) by the end of 2025, up from around 800 billion dinars ($610 million) before the introduction of the ASYCUDA (Automated System for Customs Data) system in 2022. The director-general of the General Customs Authority, Thamer Qasim (pictured), attributed the rise […]
By John Lee. Iraq has proposed three strategic initiatives to strengthen transport continuity, trade flows, and supply chains across the Arab region, presented at the third virtual meeting of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) on 2nd September 2026. According to the Ministry of Transport, the initiatives were put forward […]
By John Lee. Iraq recorded 1,754 cross-border transit journeys under the TIR (Transports Internationaux Routiers) system in August, continuing a trend of growth in international road freight transit. Murtadha Karim al-Shahmani, Director General of the General Company for Land Transport, attributed the result to ongoing coordination between relevant authorities and the work of the company's […]
By John Lee. Iraq has launched the second phase of a project to develop commercial exchange yards at its land border crossings with neighbouring countries. According to the Ministry of Transport, the initiative is part of government efforts to increase non-oil revenues and strengthen governance and automation at border facilities. Murtada al-Shahmani, Director General of […]
By John Lee. A new framework requiring importers to pay customs duties and estimated tax deposits in advance is to take effect in Iraq from 1 October 2026, according to a decision by the Council of Ministers. Under the new rules, importers will be required to deposit foreign transfer amounts for import purposes with authorised […]
By John Lee. Iraqi trucks operated by the General Company for Land Transport have completed the first journey under the TIR transit system from the Arar border crossing to the Inche Burun border crossing on the Iran-Turkmenistan border. According to the Ministry of Transport, the operation was coordinated with relevant government, border, and customs authorities […]
By Tala Michel Issa, for Arabian Business. Any opinions expressed here are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. DP World Eyes Iraq, Jordan and Turkey Trade through Syria's $800m Tartous Port Overhaul DP World sees Syria's Port of Tartous becoming a logistics gateway to Iraq, Jordan, […]
By John Lee. Iraq's ports recorded strong financial and commercial growth in 2025, according to an annual statistical report published by the Statistics and Geographic Information Systems Authority of the Ministry of Planning. Key indicators for the General Company for Ports of Iraq (GCPI) showed: Total revenues of IQD 1,100.7 billion ($840 million), up 20.5% […]
By John Lee. Operating hours at the Al Karameh / Terbil border crossing between Jordan and Iraq have been extended to accommodate rising land shipping traffic. According to Jordan's state-run Petra news agency, the Jordanian Ministry of Interior announced the change on Monday in coordination with official bodies at the crossing. Under the new schedule, […]
By John Lee. Gulftainer has launched its first dedicated feeder service linking the UAE and Umm Qasr, seventeen years after the company established Iraq's first modern container terminal at the port in 2009. According to Gulftainer, the new service is operated under the company's shipping arm, GT Lines, and connects Umm Qasr directly to UAE […]
By John Lee. Syria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have held talks on establishing a logistics corridor linking Syrian ports with Gulf markets via Iraq. According to the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), Qutaiba Badawi, Chairman of Syria's General Authority for Land and Sea Ports, met a delegation that included UAE Chargé d'Affaires […]
By John Lee. A weekly shipping service has been launched linking Abu Dhabi's Khalifa Port with Umm Qasr Port in Iraq, aimed at enhancing trade flows across the region. According to Abu Dhabi Ports (AD Ports Group), the service addresses growing container and Ro-Ro cargo volumes and is designed to strengthen connectivity between Lebanon, Syria, […]
