BAGHDAD, IRAQ – Another rice sale to Iraq has hit the books, with 44,000 MT of U.S. long grain aiming to set sail later this fall. This brings the total U.S. rice sales to Iraq to 220,000 MT contracted for 2025 deliveries.
Iraq is consistently a top ten export market for U.S. rice and the second largest market for long grain milled rice, however, changes in financing there had caused delays in Iraq’s rice purchases for a time (see
USA Rice Daily, February 24, 2025). While those financial restrictions are still in place, causing inefficiencies in cost and time, the U.S. rice industry has managed to continue sales to this important market.
“This sale was much needed for the farm economy with prices as low as they are,” said USA Rice Chair Keith Glover. “We are thankful that Iraq has been such a steady, reliable partner and look forward to the continuation of this beneficial relationship. We also want to thank Louisiana legislators Senator Bill Cassidy and Representative Clay Higgins for continuing to follow up on the restrictions on using U.S. dollars.”
Rice is the largest U.S. agricultural commodity exported to Iraq and is an essential product in regular allotments of food items the Iraqi government provides to their citizens.