Iraq’s wheat stocks sufficient till end of 2026
Iraq has sufficient wheat stocks of about 3.7 million tonnes to meet domestic demand until the end of 2026, with new harvests expected to strengthen reserves for 2027. However, declining production due to drought, water shortages and climate pressures may increase reliance on imports despite recent years of self-sufficiency.
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – Director of Iraq’s General Company for Grain Trade, Haider al-Karawi, confirmed on Saturday that wheat stocks are sufficient for use until the end of the year and meet current demand.
In a statement to the state-run news agency (INA), al-Karawi explained that the current season’s production is expected to boost strategic reserves for 2027.
Iraq’s current wheat stocks are around 3.7 million tons, enough to last until the end of 2026, according to al-Karawi.
The Iraqi official said earlier that 6.3 million tons were put on the market in 2024, compared to 5.19 million tons in 2023.
The Iraqi Ministry of Agriculture confirmed last July that the country’s wheat output declined dramatically in 2025 owing to a lack of rain.
Iraq is experiencing a worsening water shortage. According to the United Nations, the country is the fifth most vulnerable to climate change, with the effects exacerbated by Turkey’s and Iran’s dam development on rivers that flow into Iraq.
The Iraqi Ministry of Agriculture declared in mid-July that it had achieved self-sufficiency in wheat for the third year in a row.
Iraq was self-sufficient in wheat for three years before the crisis in Ukraine, producing 4.7 million tons in 2019, 6.2 million tons in 2020, and around 4.2 million tons in 2021.
However, water scarcity and desertification limited local wheat production, forcing the Iraqi government to import wheat to fill the shortfall.
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Source : Iraqi News
