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Shipping to Iraq

Shipping Alternatives

There are several routings for shipping via air or sea to the Iraq border. Expeditors has many options that will fit each customer's needs. Shipments with northern destinations will go through Turkey, central destinations will go through Jordan or Lebanon, with availability of upper-deck capacity and southern destinations will go through Kuwait. As always, shipments will be routed by our customers' terms and conditions or their special requirements, typically those routings will be processed in three distinct areas.

  • Turkey (ADA)

    • Air shipments will be securely routed through our Turkey offices to destinations in northern Iraq. Our offices in Istanbul, Ankara and Adana will manage the air shipments in transit to Iraq. Ocean bound vessels will travel to our office in Mersin, with freight bound to Iraq. Transshipment trucking from Adana is one day, plus 3 - 7 days trucking to final destination. Our Turkey office has professional working relationships with eight trucking operations throughout the country. They also have access to special trucking equipment such as tilt, flatbed, refrigerated, low bed and heavy transport vehicles.

  • Jordan (AMA)

    • Air shipments routed through our Jordan offices will be destined for central Iraq locations. Air flights will be routed through Amman and then forward into Iraq. Ocean shipments will arrive into Al'aqaba and sent through to Amman for distribution into Iraq. Transshipment trucking from Aqaba is one day, plus 4 - 6 days trucking to final destination. Our Amman office has access to the largest fleet of trucks that are able to service Iraq destinations. Amman also has simple procedures making it desirable transshipment point. On a case by case basis, risk insurance on shipments to the final destination is also available.

  • Kuwait (KWI)

    • Ocean shipments bound for southern Iraq will be professionally routed through our Kuwait office. Air shipments may also arrive in Kuwait and will be shipped via truck across the border into Iraq. Transshipment trucking from Kuwait is three days, plus 1 - 3 days trucking to final destination. Kuwait, a city that has established services with many army shipments, offers our customers attractive trucking prices and a gateway operation that can readily handle transshipment by ocean, air or truck.

  • Lebanon (BEY)

    • A dedicated staff of customer service specialists will be located in Beirut to service any customer need for shipments to Iraq. At our regional headquarters, a special team has been established to assist with unique circumstances surrounding shipping to Iraq. It is only 950 kilometers to Baghdad so, shipping through Beirut is not only a cost-effective option but also has, simplified procedures.

Exporting to Iraq

In May 2003, the U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Asset Controls (OFAC) amended the Iraqi Sanctions regulations to include a general license, authorizing exports to Iraq. Under the provisions of the general license, certain commodities that are not otherwise subject to U.S. Department of Commerce or U.S. Department of State export license requirements may be exported to Iraq. The general license does not however, authorize trade in, or transfer of, cultural or other items that were illegally removed from the Iraqi National Museum. This is based on U.S. regulations. Exports from other countries are subject to the requirements of the exporting country.

Importing into Iraq

The U.S. Department of Commerce publishes information about importing into Iraq on a document entitled "Overview of Commercial Law in Iraq." http://www.export.gov/iraq/commercialenv/index.html

Documentation Requirements

  • Commercial Invoice - containing detailed description of commodity, country of origin and name and address of manufacturer
  • Packing List
  • Bill of Lading

Links to government documentation on Iraq

The government publishes information on Iraq Reconstruction on the Commerce Department's web site http://www.export.gov/iraq/. An update on business in Iraq was updated on November 17, 2003. More details about the OFAC General License are available on OFAC's web site at http://www.treas.gov/ofac/.The Iraqi Governing Council has the latest information on operational guidelines on their web site at http://www.cpa-iraq.org.

Security

Expeditors has security personnel located throughout our network. Each region has a Security Manager and every branch is staffed with a security expert. Expeditors is working with professional operations at Iraqi border locations and trucking companies that provide a variety of security options for all shipment needs.

Insurance

In general, insurance is available for goods moving to the Iraqi border only. There may be exceptions where more extensive "in-country" cargo insurance on the goods may be obtained. This is on a case-by-case basis, and insurance company by insurance company basis. You need to contact your insurance agent or broker to discuss this issue, or Expeditors if we can be of assistance.

Air Shipments

Currently, there are no air restrictions on flights or size of cargo. Commercial airlift is operating to capacity and our air charter department is fully-equipped to assist with special needs. Air lift is operating to Istanbul, Adana, Amman and Kuwait City airports before being routed to Iraq final destinations.

Ocean Shipments

Currently, only limited projects and break bulk vessels are operational at Umm Qasr port, Iraq. However, some military vessels are calling Umm Qasr port at this time. It will be months before Umm Qasr port is open for direct commerce containerized traffic. Currently, all ocean cargo moving into Iraq, is moving via overland trucking from the discharge ports of Mersin, Turkey; Beirut, Lebanon; Aqaba, Jordan and Kuwait City; Kuwait.

Ground Shipments

Shipments will be delivered to Iraq via ground from one of our three (ADA, AMA, KWI) transit points to the consignee, warehouse or final destination. To minimize risk, trucks are proceeding through Iraq in groups of ten and are equipped with cell phones for tracking purposes. Within Iraq cities, there are also several check points for safety.

Rates and Contact Information

Your local Expeditors sales representative will be able to help you prepare for or track any shipment to Iraq. Our customer service team in Beirut can be reached at 961-1-612-999 or iraq@expeditors.com. For special assistance, our sales director for the Near and Middle East and Indian Sub-Continent is Raymond Helayel, located in Beirut and can be contacted at raymond.helayel@expeditors.com.