Countries · IQ
Iraq: sanctions and trade risk
As of 7 November 2026, the screened UN, EU, UK, Swiss and US sanctions lists contain 273 companies, organisations, vessels and aircraft linked to Iraq.Lists last checked .
Logistics profile: ports, airports, customs, documents, holidays, news ↓
A sanctions programme concerning Iraq is in force — typically an arms embargo or targeted measures against listed persons and entities. Ordinary civilian goods are usually not restricted; arms, related material and listed parties are.
Sources: EU Sanctions Map — Iraq (22 Dec 2025) · SECO — Sanktionsverordnungen (index of 28 Swiss regimes) (24 Oct 2026) · OFAC — Sanctions Programs and Country Information (active programs) (24 Oct 2026) · reviewed 24 Oct 2026
By sanctions regime
The indicator above is the strictest of these. Which regimes are relevant to a shipment depends on many connections — dispatch country, company location, incorporation, nationality, ownership, banks, goods origin. The check selects them from your inputs in a simplified way; UN measures take effect through each country's implementing law.
| Regime | Indicator | What applies |
|---|---|---|
| UN | Sanctions programme | Residual measures: former-regime assets, arms restrictions on non-state actors — implemented by UN member states in their own law. |
| EU | Sanctions programme | Implements the UN measures. |
| Switzerland | Sanctions programme | Implements the UN measures. |
| UK | Sanctions programme | Implements the UN measures. |
| US | Sanctions programme | Implements the UN measures. |
On the sanctions lists
273 entries on the official lists name Iraq — as nationality, address, registration or flag. That links them to the country; it says nothing about other companies there. The same company can appear on several lists and is then counted once per list. Individuals are not included — Sanctioni does not process them.
| List | Entries | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Switzerland SECO Consolidated Sanctions List | 203 | 203 | — | — |
| US OFAC — Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) | 51 | 51 | — | — |
| EU Consolidated Financial Sanctions List (FSF) | 7 | 7 | — | — |
| UK Sanctions List (FCDO) | 6 | 6 | — | — |
| UN Security Council Consolidated List | 6 | 6 | — | — |
Latest changes
No new listings or removals naming Iraq recorded yet.
Related
Logistics profile
Iraq: logistics and trade
Energy exporter and emerging transit corridor (Development Road)
Iraq (IQ) lies in the Middle East and borders Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iran, Turkey and Syria, with access to the Persian Gulf in the south. Its economy is dominated by oil and gas, complemented by agriculture, services and emerging industry, while the country relies on imports for consumer goods, machinery and food. Imports and exports are processed by the General Authority of Customs under the Ministry of Finance, which has been rolling out the electronic ASYCUDA system since 2023; the Kurdistan Region operates its own customs administration at Erbil and Sulaymaniyah and at land borders. Iraq has no general VAT, only a sales tax on selected goods, and import duties mostly between 0 and 30 percent (a uniform 5 percent for many products). Strategically important is the southern port cluster around Umm Qasr, Iraq's only deep-water port, and Khor al-Zubair, while the Grand Faw Port and the Development Road corridor towards Turkey are under construction. Air freight concentrates on Baghdad, Basra and Erbil.
- Capital
- Baghdad
- Population
- 46,118,793
- Area
- 438,317 km²
- Currency
- Iraqi Dinar (IQD)
- Continent
- Asia
- Region
- Middle East / MENA
- Economic area
- Not a member of any FTA or customs union (left GAFTA in 2016); WTO observer
- Religions
- Islam
- Access to the sea
- Yes
Transport modes Sea · Road · Rail · Air · Pipeline
- Current situation
- Expansion of the large Grand Faw Port project and the Development Road (Gulf-Turkey corridor) is underway; Umm Qasr will be expanded in 2026 with IFC support (approx. plus 50 percent capacity).
- Seasonal conditions
- Very hot summers with often more than 45 degrees Celsius affect temperature-sensitive cargo; sand and dust storms in spring and summer can disrupt ports and air traffic.
Main seaports
- Umm Qasr
Umm Qasr (IQ UQR) is Iraq's largest container port: ~1.5M TEU, Basra Gateway and Gulftainer terminals, main customs gateway for Baghdad and southern Iraq.
- Al Basrah
Al Basrah / Al Maqal (IQ BSR): Shatt al-Arab river port for general cargo, Ro-Ro and bulk. Containers move via Umm Qasr (Basra Gateway Terminal) and, later, Al-Faw.
- Al-Basra Oil Terminal
Al-Basra Oil Terminal (IQ MAB) is Iraq's main offshore crude-export terminal, not a cargo port. Containers and general freight route via Umm Qasr.
- Khawr Al Amaya
Khawr Al Amaya (KAAOT, IQ KHA): offshore crude-oil tanker terminal in the Persian Gulf exporting Iraqi crude – not a container or general-cargo port.
Main cargo airports
- Baghdad International Airport / New Al Muthana Air BaseBGW
Baghdad International (BGW): Iraq’s busiest airport with a dedicated cargo zone, weekly 777 freighter from Doha, Qatar, Emirates, Turkish Cargo. Road feed, port Umm Qasr.
- Basra International AirportBSR
Basra International (BSR) is southern Iraq's air cargo gateway for the oil and gas sector, with a 6,000 m² LAT terminal, cold storage and links to Umm Qasr port.
- Erbil International AirportEBL
Erbil International (EBL), Iraq: dedicated cargo terminal, 19,112 tonnes handled in 2024, pharma cold storage. Operating, with security-related disruptions.
- Sulaymaniyah International AirportISU
Jalal Talabani International (ISU, Sulaymaniyah) offers a cargo village with customs and cold storage; Kurdistan's second air-freight gateway near Iran.
Road corridors
- Basra - Baghdad - Mosul (north-south axis)
- Baghdad - Turkey via Ibrahim Khalil
- Development Road (Al-Faw - Turkey, under construction)
Rail corridors
- Basra - Baghdad - Mosul
- Planned rail axis along the Development Road
Main trade lanes
- Iraq - China
- Iraq - Turkey
- Iraq - UAE
- Iraq - India
- Iraq - USA
Customs and import
Customs authority General Authority of Customs Iraq (General Authority of Customs), subordinate to the Ministry of FinanceOfficial website ↗
- Import customs system
- Electronic processing via ASYCUDA (UNCTAD), introduced step by step since Oct 2023 (air cargo in Baghdad first). The Kurdistan Region operates its own customs administration at Erbil, Sulaymaniyah and land borders.
- Export customs system
- Exports go through the same customs authority and ASYCUDA; crude oil dominates exports. Legalized documents are required; digital signatures are not recognized by Iraqi customs.
- Import VAT
- No general VAT. Sales tax only on certain goods: alcohol and tobacco 300 percent, cars and flight tickets 15 percent each, mobile phone and internet 20 percent, luxury hotels and restaurants 10 percent.
- Proofs of origin and trade agreements
- Legalized certificate of origin required. Iraq left the GAFTA in 2016; currently no free trade agreement is in force with the EU, EFTA or Arab partners.
- Restricted and prohibited goods
- Import restrictions apply to weapons, explosives and certain dual-use goods, among others; conformity and standards obligations. The customs authority maintains detailed lists of prohibited and restricted goods.
Typical import documents
- Commercial invoice (legalized)
- Certificate of origin (legalized)
- Bill of Lading
- Packing list
- Conformity or quality certificate
Typical export documents
- Commercial invoice
- Certificate of origin
- Bill of Lading
- Customs export declaration (ASYCUDA)
Logistics conditions
- Customs complexity
- High
- Customs delays
- High
- Port congestion
- Medium to high
- Dangerous goods relevance
- High
- Pharma and cold chain relevance
- Medium to high
- E-commerce relevance
- Medium
Trade
Top import partners
Top export partners
Top import goods
- Machinery
- Vehicles
- Electronics
- Food
- Medicines
Top export goods
- Petroleum products
- Natural gas
- Chemicals
- Fertilizers
- Dates
Typical cargo
- Crude oil and petroleum products
- Machinery and vehicles
- Food
- Construction materials
- Consumer goods
Latest logistics news
- Strait of Hormuz: Open, Closed, or Just Too Risky?21 Jun 2026
Iran declares the Strait of Hormuz closed, the USA disagrees. However, for shipping companies, the practical situation is what matters: traffic remains significantly restricted.
Logistics questions
Is there a VAT on imports in Iraq?
No, Iraq does not levy a general VAT. Instead, a sales tax applies to certain goods: 300 percent on alcohol and tobacco, 15 percent each on cars and flight tickets, 20 percent on mobile phone and internet services, and 10 percent in luxury hotels and restaurants.
How high are import duties in Iraq?
Duties are based on the Harmonized System and are usually between 0 and 30 percent. A uniform rate of 5 percent applies to many goods; food, medicines, books, clothing, and goods for humanitarian aid and reconstruction are often exempt.
Which customs authority is responsible in Iraq?
The General Authority of Customs under the Ministry of Finance is responsible. Since 2023, it has been gradually switching its processes to the electronic ASYCUDA system. The Kurdistan Region operates its own customs administration.
Which documents are required for import?
Commonly required are a legalized commercial invoice, a legalized certificate of origin, the Bill of Lading, a packing list and, where applicable, conformity or quality certificates. Iraqi customs does not recognize digital signatures.
Which ports handle sea traffic?
All sea traffic is concentrated in the south: Umm Qasr is the only deep-water port, complemented by Khor al-Zubair and ports near Basra. The new large port Grand Faw Port is being built and is to be connected with Turkey via the Development Road.
Which airports are relevant for air freight?
The main cargo airports are Baghdad International (BGW), Basra (BSR) and Erbil (EBL), complemented by Sulaymaniyah (ISU) and Najaf (NJF).
Full logistics profile on Freight Academy ↗
Powered by Freight Academy, verified 23 Jun 2026. Logistics information, not a sanctions source.