U.S. Food Export to Iraq

Chihade International supplies American food products to importers and distributors in Iraq, shipped from our SQF-certified facility in Georgia. We are looking for a distributor partner in Iraq.

Why Iraq

Iraq is a substantial and under-served market for U.S. food. U.S. agricultural exports were $264.55 million in 2024. Iraq is the Middle East’s largest buyer of U.S. rice — $85.5 million and 131,501 tonnes in 2024, making it the tenth-largest destination worldwide — and imports around 90% of its rice needs. Poultry accounted for a further $43.96 million.

It is a market where reliable documentation and a partner who knows the clearance process matter more than almost anywhere else we ship.

What We Do From the U.S.

We are a U.S. exporter. We do not operate warehouses or distribution in Iraq — that is what our distributor partners do. Our job is everything on the American side of the shipment:

• Sourcing from more than 300 U.S. manufacturers, to your specification
• Consolidating mixed loads into full containers, so you are not forced into single-supplier minimums
• Dry, chilled and frozen storage in our 64,000 sq. ft. SQF-certified facility in Lawrenceville, Georgia
• Arabic labelling, stickering and ink-jet date coding applied before goods leave the U.S.
• Export documentation — USDA and health certificates, halal certification where required, certificates of origin
• Ocean and air freight on contracted U.S. lanes, with expedited air for urgent replenishment

Import Requirements We Prepare For

There is no single food agency in Iraq, and requirements are less consistently documented than in neighbouring markets. We say that openly because it shapes how we work here: we confirm current requirements per shipment rather than assuming last year’s rules still apply.

The Central Organization for Standardization and Quality Control (COSQC) sets Iraqi Standard Specifications and mandates an import Certificate of Conformity. The Ministry of Health covers food safety, the Ministry of Agriculture veterinary and animal products, and the Ministry of Trade import control.

All meat entering Iraq must be halal, certified by an Islamic organisation or accredited body in the country of supply. U.S. red meat and poultry are eligible with the appropriate FSIS certification; poultry must cross the border within four months of production, and state-level avian influenza restrictions apply.

Arabic is required on the label for product name, warnings, instructions for use and ingredients, together with country of origin.

Umm Qasr in Basra is the principal containerised food gateway, alongside Khor al-Zubair. Air freight moves through Baghdad and Erbil.

What We Look For in a Distributor Partner

We are deliberately selective, because these relationships tend to last decades rather than seasons. We are typically looking for:

• An established importer of record, with the licences and clearance experience the market requires
• Real coverage of at least one channel — modern retail, wholesale, foodservice distribution, or franchise supply
• Temperature-controlled storage and distribution appropriate to the categories you want to carry
• A sales team that can place and support a new brand rather than simply warehousing it
• An interest in a long-term programme, including exclusive lines where it makes sense for both sides

If that is a reasonable description of your business, we would like to talk.

See all markets we serve →

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have a warehouse or office in Iraq?

No. Chihade International is a U.S. exporter based in Lawrenceville, Georgia, and we ship from there. We do not hold stock inside Iraq. Local importing, clearance, storage and distribution are handled by our distributor partners — which is precisely the role we are looking to fill.

Do we have to order a full container of a single product?

No. Consolidation is one of the main reasons distributors work with us. We combine products from multiple U.S. manufacturers into one container, so you can carry a broad range without committing to full-truckload minimums from each supplier.

Can we get exclusive rights to a brand in our market?

In many cases, yes. Chihade International is the exclusive distributor of Country Sun, our own brand of American cheeses, mayonnaise, frying oils, cheese sauce and breakfast meats. Where it makes commercial sense on both sides, we grant exclusive Country Sun distribution rights by territory — a line your competitors cannot stock. See the range at countrysunfoods.com.

Who obtains the import permits in Iraq?

In practice the Iraqi importer does, and the Certificate of Conformity and import licence attach to the Iraqi consignee. We will not ship until we have confirmation that the necessary permits are in place on your side — sending goods against incomplete paperwork is how consignments end up sitting at port.

Which products move best from the U.S. to Iraq?

Rice is by far the largest category, with Iraq the Middle East’s biggest buyer of U.S. rice, followed by poultry. Dry grocery, oils and consumer-ready lines consolidate well alongside them in a mixed container.

Is a halal certificate from any Islamic centre accepted?

Iraq requires certification by an Islamic organisation or accredited body in the country of supply. We are not aware of a published Iraqi register of approved U.S. certifiers, so we route certification through established bodies and confirm acceptance with your clearing agent before shipping.

How We Work With Partners in Iraq

Whichever channel you operate in, the U.S. side of the shipment is the same: sourcing, consolidation, preparation and documentation from our SQF-certified facility in Lawrenceville, Georgia.

• Franchise export — supplying U.S. franchise brands at their locations in Iraq.
• Distributor partnerships — for importers and foodservice distributors carrying American lines.
• Retail and supermarket consolidation — an American grocery range without single-supplier minimums.
• Export warehousing and 3PL — dry, chilled and frozen under one roof in Georgia.
• All export services — the full picture of what we handle before a container sails.
• Beef and protein export — U.S. beef, poultry and seafood, including halal programmes, with plant eligibility confirmed for each market.

Useful reading: Halal certification: what actually matters  ·  Multi-language labelling for exported U.S. food  ·  How to become a distributor partner  · How franchise export works ·  all export guides

Become Our Distributor Partner in Iraq

Tell us about your market coverage and the products you are looking for, and we will be in touch about a distribution program.