Tell us your company, route and cargo — our team replies with a clear price.
With a team that follows Iraq's changing market and customs conditions closely, we manage your shipment from start to finish.
On shipments to Iraq the hard part is not the transport, it is the conformity certificate. Since 1 January 2020, regulated products entering Iraq have required a certificate of conformity issued under the assessment programme run on behalf of COSQC, the Central Organization for Standardization and Quality Control. Without it the cargo stops at customs. A second point catches exporters out: federal Iraq and the Kurdistan Region do not handle clearance identically, so the delivery point changes the documentary structure.
The logic of the programme is simple. The product is assessed and certified in the country of origin, by an authorised body, against the applicable standard, before it reaches Iraq. The list of products in scope is revised over time — the most recent revision was published on 8 January 2025 — so “it wasn’t in scope last year” is not a verification.
| Step | When | Who |
|---|---|---|
| Confirm whether the product is in scope | At order stage | Exporter, against the tariff code |
| Testing and documentation | Before production is finished | Manufacturer / authorised laboratory |
| Certificate of conformity issued | Before loading | Authorised body |
| Declaration and import | On arrival | Importer in Iraq |
Chasing the certificate while the goods wait at the border is expensive even where it is possible: the cost is not the certificate, it is storage and demurrage.
On Iraq the choice is rarely between two vessels; it is between road and sea. When the gap is narrow we show both, because quoting only the mode that was requested does not serve the customer.
If the delivery point is Erbil or Sulaymaniyah, clearance runs differently from Baghdad or Basra. The importer’s registration, the office where the declaration is lodged and the documents requested can all differ. If this is not settled at quotation stage, correcting it after loading costs both time and money.
For regulated products, yes. Under the conformity assessment programme in force since 1 January 2020, products in scope must be certified in the country of origin before loading. Because the scope list is revised, it should be confirmed against the tariff code for every shipment.
The programme rests on pre-shipment assessment. Building the process after departure — where possible at all — generates storage and demurrage costs. The correct order starts before production is finished.
No. Customs practice in the Kurdistan Region and in federal Iraq can differ: the importer’s registration, the office where the declaration is lodged and the documents requested may not be the same. The delivery point has to be settled at quotation stage.
It depends on volume and deadline. Road suits part loads and tight dates; sea usually suits full container volumes and heavy cargo. When the difference is narrow we present both options together.
Yes. Below a full load, groupage is the right choice, but consolidation adds days. Above a certain volume a full truck can be both cheaper and faster, so the calculation should be run both ways.
Yes, for energy, construction and industrial plant equipment, with stowage study, routing and permits. This cargo has to be planned in weeks, not days.
Yes, under ADR by road and IMDG by sea, with approved packaging and complete documentation. Assessment always starts from the safety data sheet, the UN number and the class.
Pickup location, the delivery address in Iraq, tariff code, number of packages, dimensions and weight, nature of the goods and the Incoterms rule. For dangerous goods, also the UN number and class.
The main drivers are the transport mode (full load, groupage, container, Ro-Ro or air), the cargo’s weight, volume and stackability, the pickup and delivery addresses, the Incoterm, whether the goods are dangerous, and seasonal demand. Customs clearance and insurance scope also affect the total, so a firm price is given once the cargo details are shared.
Send the tariff code with your enquiry. We can tell you whether a conformity certificate is needed before the goods are made — the check that removes the most expensive delay on this lane.
Edora Global Trade is an Istanbul-based freight forwarder and customs broker that ships goods between Turkey and Iraq by road, sea and air, with customs handled on both sides.
It works with companies only and replies to quote requests within 24 working hours.
We manage shipments to Iraq end to end with the services below. Each one includes customs clearance and document follow-up, for companies only.
Regular groupage and full load services via the Habur border crossing.
Container and project cargo shipments from Turkish ports to Umm Qasr.
Fast air freight for time-critical and high-value cargo.
Import, export and transit procedures, plus DDP door-to-door delivery.
INTERTEK and import permit follow-up for private sector and public projects.
Fast action through our Iraq office and local agent network.
Share your pickup point and cargo details and we will come back shortly with a clear quote.