Container shipping from Turkey to Iraq
We buy your goods from Turkish factories and Istanbul's markets, check them and ship them to Iraq by road via the Habur – Ibrahim Khalil border gate, or by sea to Umm Qasr. Here are the route, the time it takes, the papers Iraq asks for, and its duties.
- By road, by truck4–5 days
- By sea from TurkeyMostly halted since March 2026
- Shared containerFrom one pallet
The route from Turkey to Iraq
More than 80% of Turkish goods reach Iraq by road, through the Habur – Ibrahim Khalil border gate. Since 2025 trucks cross Iraq under the TIR system.
Since March 2026 the Strait of Hormuz has been mostly shut to shipping, so few ships reach Umm Qasr and several carriers have stopped taking bookings for Iraq. Goods go by road, as most Turkish goods for Iraq already did.
Trucks enter the Kurdistan Region at Ibrahim Khalil and reach inland Iraq from the Mersin and İskenderun area in 4 to 5 days. Goods for central and southern Iraq move to Iraqi trucks in Erbil; trucks going on to the Gulf or Jordan cross Iraq under TIR without reloading.
4–5 daysFrom Mersin and İskenderun to Umm Qasr. A full container just for you, or space in a shared one.
Mostly halted since March 2026For samples and urgent, light orders.
3–7 daysTimes are approximate, port to port or border to border, and don't include customs clearance.
Which container fits your goods?
Enter one carton's size and weight and how many cartons you have. We show the volume, the weight and how many cartons each way of shipping takes. The price comes in your quote.
One carton
120 cartons · 11.5 m³ · 2,160 kg
By air you'd be charged for 2,160 kg: the larger of the real weight and the volume weight (volume ÷ 6000).
Usually the best fit: a shared container. You pay only for 11.5 m³.
| Way to ship | Inside size | Max load | Your cartons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared container | You pay for the space you use | — | You pay for 11.5 m³ |
| 20 ft container | 5.90 × 2.35 × 2.39 m · 33.2 m³ | 25 t | All 120 fit35% full |
| 40 ft container | 12.03 × 2.35 × 2.39 m · 67.7 m³ | 27.6 t | All 120 fit17% full |
| 40 ft high cube | 12.03 × 2.35 × 2.70 m · 76.4 m³ | 28.5 t | All 120 fit15% full |
| 13.6 m truck | 13.6 × 2.45 × 2.70 m · about 90 m³ | about 24 t | All 120 fit13% full |
Sizes are typical and vary a little from one container or trailer to another, and some countries allow less weight on their roads. We work out the exact loading with your quote.
Papers: what we prepare and what Iraq asks for
We prepare in Turkey
- Commercial invoiceEvery model, its quantity and price.
- Packing listWhat is in each carton, its weight and size, from the inspection.
- Certificate of originSince April 2026 the certificate for Iraq shows the invoice number and date, and Iraqi customs checks both electronically.
What Iraq asks of you
- Certificate of Conformity (COC)Food, chemicals, engineering goods, textiles and building materials need a COC before shipping, from an inspection company appointed by Iraq's standards body (COSQC), such as Bureau Veritas, Intertek or TÜV. Shipments without it can be rejected.Official site
- Kurdistan RegionGoods for the Kurdistan Region follow its own system: they are tested at the border, and pre-shipment certificates are needed only for clothing and leather, vehicle parts and tyres, and steel sheet. Baghdad may re-test goods that move on south.
- LabelsLabels in Arabic, or Arabic and English. Food labels show the name, ingredients, weights, maker and importer, origin, batch and the production and expiry dates.Official site
Trade agreement and duties
There is no trade agreement between Iraq and Türkiye. Since January 2026 federal Iraq charges 5%, 10%, 15% or 30%, worked out on a reference value set for each product, not on the invoice. The Kurdistan Region applies its own tariff to goods used there.
Before you order goods for Iraq
- Iraq bans some farm products by season (in 2026: tomatoes, potatoes, onions, garlic and others). The list changes, so we check it before you order fresh produce, eggs, poultry, dates or wheat.
- Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region don't always apply the same bans, quotas or duties, so a product allowed at one border can be stopped at another. Tell us where the goods are going.
- At Ibrahim Khalil, goods that fail lab tests are rejected or destroyed: 3,550 tonnes in the first four months of 2026. This is why the COC and our check before shipping matter.
How we ship your order to Iraq
Send your request
The goods and the quantity, through the form below or on WhatsApp.
We send offers and samples
Supplier prices and photos of the goods, and samples if you ask.
We check and combine
We count the pieces, look for faults, measure and weigh the cartons, and send you a report with photos and video.
See an example reportWe ship it to Iraq
And we send you the papers before the goods arrive, so your customs broker can start.
Questions about shipping goods to Iraq
How long does shipping from Turkey to Iraq take?
By road: 4–5 days. By sea: Mostly halted since March 2026. By air: 3–7 days, for samples and urgent orders. Customs clearance in Iraq comes on top.
Can I ship in a shared container?
Yes. A shared container starts from one pallet, and you pay for the space your goods take. Try the container tool on this page to see your goods' volume.
What papers does Iraq ask for?
A COC from an approved inspection company for food, chemicals, engineering goods, textiles and building materials; the Kurdistan Region's own checks for goods staying there; and Arabic labels. We prepare the invoice, packing list and certificate of origin with the invoice number on it.
Who clears the goods in Iraq?
You or your customs broker in Iraq. We prepare the invoice, packing list and certificate of origin and send them before the goods arrive; the duties are paid in Iraq.
Can you combine goods from several suppliers into one shipment?
Yes. We receive the goods from every supplier at our Istanbul warehouse, check them and put them together in one shipment to Iraq.
Get a quote for your shipment to Iraq
The quote is free, with no obligation. It comes itemised: the price of the goods, our service fee and the shipping, each on its own line.
