By John Lee. A committee has been formed in Jordan to oversee and expedite transit trade, with a particular focus on goods destined for Iraq. According to Jordan's state-run Petra news agency, the committee will submit operational reports every three days on the movement of goods from the Port of Aqaba to their final destinations, and […]
By John Lee. The General Company for Land Transport (GCLT) has marked one year since the launch of the International Road Transport (TIR) system in Iraq, which came into operation in April 2025. According to the company's director-general, Mortada Karim Al-Shahmani, approximately 2,000 transit operations have been completed across Iraqi territory during the first year. […]
By John Lee. The Rabia border crossing between Iraq and Syria has reopened after 13 years, restoring a key trade route between the two countries. The reopening follows the completion of rehabilitation and reconstruction works covering infrastructure and service facilities, reflecting improved security conditions in border areas and a broader push to strengthen regional trade […]
By John Lee. According to a statement today (Wednesday) from Iraq's Ministry of Trade, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz has led to a gradual recovery in maritime traffic, although activity remains below normal levels amid continued geopolitical uncertainty. It says early signs of improvement have been observed in trade flows, particularly in energy […]
By John Lee. Iraq's General Company for Land Transportation (GCLT) has successfully completed a trial freight journey under the TIR system along a new corridor linking Turkey, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia. The route runs from the Ibrahim Al-Khalil border crossing to the Arar crossing, with the trial completed within the planned schedule and without reported […]
By John Lee. The Iraqi Ministry of Transport has reported continued arrivals of cargo vessels at Iraqi ports during March, reflecting ongoing maritime trade activity despite regional tensions. According to the ministry, maritime agencies of the State Company for Maritime Transport (SCMT) have continued to provide services to incoming vessels, while cargo handling operations are […]
By John Lee. The Ministry of Oil has reportedly issued tenders to export Iraqi crude oil through the Syrian port of Baniyas and the Jordanian port of Aqaba, according to Oil Minister Hayan Abdul Ghani. In comments reported by the state-run Iraqi News Agency (INA), Abdul Ghani said Iraq remains heavily dependent on revenues from […]
By Rostom Aram, for Almas Group. Freight Under Pressure: How Regional Instability Is Reshaping Middle East Logistics The Middle East remains one of the world's most important logistics corridors, connecting production hubs in Asia with markets across Europe, Africa, and the wider region. However, periods of geopolitical tension continue to test the resilience of supply […]
From Kapita Research. Any opinions expressed here are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iraq's 2026 Customs Reset Iraq's main ports have been partially paralyzed since the start of 2026. The cause is not a physical blockade but the activation of a new digital customs system […]
By John Lee. Iraq's General Customs Authority has announced temporary exceptional measures to accelerate the flow of goods and reduce congestion at ports. According to state-run Iraqi News Agency (INA), the authority said the measures were adopted in line with directives from Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani and in response to exceptional regional conditions affecting ports […]
By John Lee. Gulftainer has reported a 28 percent increase in throughput and container handling at its Iraq Container Terminal (ICT) at the start of 2026 compared with the same period last year. The company attributed the growth to expanded carrier services, an enhanced product portfolio and improved operational performance, strengthening the terminal's role as a […]
By John Lee. Iraq's General Customs Authority has reported its highest-ever monthly customs revenues, exceeding IQD 137 billion (USD 105 million) in January 2026, reflecting the impact of recent regulatory and administrative reforms. The Authority said the increase followed the full implementation of Decision No. 957 across all customs centres, improving revenue collection efficiency and […]
