Iraq
3.5.1 Iraq Food Suppliers
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Since 1990, Iraq has been using the public distribution system (PDS) to achieve food security and counteract the debilitating effects of the economic sanctions imposed on Iraq in 1990, by providing families with basic food items on monthly basis (Alzobaidee, H.L.K. 2015. Social Protection and Safety Nets in Iraq. Brighton: Institute of Development Studies). In 2016, 90% of Iraqi households (33 million people) received subsidised food commodities, while the programme’s expenditure was reported to be 0.6 per cent of GDP (Reference), the PDS were legible for all Iraqi’s however, the government decided to exclude some categories effective on 01 June 2021. The main PDS food commodities are Rice, Wheat Flour, Sunflower Oil and White Sugar. lately in 2021, tomato paste, beans and chickpeas were added to the PDS. However, the distribution of all commodities and frequency were varied from month to another depending on the economic situation in Iraq. Therefore, Iraq is trying to reach food security and increase the production of the strategic commodities such as wheat and barley. According to the ministry of agriculture for Iraq.

The local needs for wheat are approximately 4.2 million tonnages, in 2020 Iraq was able to produce more than 6.2 million tonnages of wheat however Iraq is still importing approximately of 1 million tonnages to mix with the local production for quality matters. Meanwhile Iraq produced barley of approximately 1.7 million tonnage which is over the local needs. Iraq is encouraging the production of those two commodities locally by purchasing them in a higher price than the international market, which was one of reasons for the surpluses. Dates, tomato, eggplants, onion, and others are a surpluses commodity, please refer to this link (Available in Arabic only) for more details on local production. Ministry of Trade for Iraq is contracting  Etihad Food Industries Co. Ltd to cover the PDS requirement of sugar and sunflower oil.  the factory is producing Sugar, Sunflower oil, Vegetable Ghee, RDB palm Olein and Corn oil. the factory capacity is 4000 MT/day for sugar and 2400 MT/day for sunflower oil. Altunsa Company has presence in Iraq as a food supplier and manufacturer, it provides rations, dry pulses, sunflower oil with a capacity of 2000 MT/Day and wheat flour with a capacity of 1000 MT/Day.

Additional information can be located from sources which are regularly maintained and reflect current facts and figures. For more specific and detailed overviews of food availability and market conditions, please consult the following sources:

WFP Vulnerability and Analysis Mapping (VAM):  (http://vam.wfp.org/)

USAID Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET): (http://www.fews.net/)

For more information on food supplier contact details, please see the following link: 4.10 Supplier Contact List.

Retail Sector

According to the Iraqi Chamber of Commerce and Central Statistics office, there are approximately 100,000 registered private food retailers and wholesalers. However, it is noticed that there might be more than 200,000 unregistered small retailers. Retailers generally purchase most items from established wholesalers and from specific wholesale markets. Overall, sales among registered retailers have grown modestly at a few percentage points per year.

Types of Retailers Available

Type of Retailer

Rank

(1-5)

Supermarket – concentrates mainly in supplying a range of food, beverage, cleaning and sanitation products; have significant purchasing power; are often part of national/regional/global chains.

4

Convenience Store/Mini Market – medium sized shop; offers a more limited range of products than supermarkets; usually has good/stable purchasing power; may be part of chain or cooperative.

3

Permanent shop with strong supply capacity individually/family-owned store; usually offers fewer commodities and a limited selection of brands; good storage and reliable supply options.

2

Permanent shop with limited supply capacity individually/family-owned store; offers fewer commodities and a limited selection of brands; limited storage and unstable supply options.

1

Mobile Shop/Market Stand individually/family-owned store; usually offers fewer commodities and a limited selection of brands; may be found at outdoor markets, camps or unstable environments.

5

Wholesale

Supplier Overview

Company Name

Etihad Food Industries Co. Ltd

Address

Babylon, Iraq

Does the supplier have its own production / manufacturing capacity?

 

Yes, refinery factory

Sugar: 4000 MT/day

Soybean / sunflower oil: 2400 MT/day

RBD Palm olein Oil: 2400 MT/day

Does the supplier have its own retail capacity?

No

Does the supplier have its own transport capacity?

Yes

Does the supplier have its own storage facilities?

Yes

Approximate Turnover in MT

 

Sugar: 1.25 MT /Annual

Soybean / sunflower oil: 450 K MT/Annual

RBD Palm olein Oil: 25 K MT/ Annual

Payment Methods Accepted

Bank Transfer

Other Comments or Key Information

Contracted supplier with MOT for sugar and sunflower oil for the PDS.

One of the biggest refineries in MENA

Well-known brand in Iraq.

 

Supplier Overview

Company Name

Altunsa Company   

Address

Duhok, Iraq

Does the supplier have its own production / manufacturing capacity?

 

Yes,

Rations: 2,000 MT/day

sunflower oil: 2,000 MT/day

dry pulses: 2,000 MT/day

wheat flour: 1000 MT/day

Does the supplier have its own retail capacity?

No

Does the supplier have its own transport capacity?

Information not available

Does the supplier have its own storage facilities?

Yes

Approximate Turnover in MT

 

Rations: 60,000 MT/ Annual

sunflower oil: 10,000 MT/ Annual

dry pulses: 200,000 MT/Annual

Payment Methods Accepted

Bank Transfer

Other Comments or Key Information

Company HQ is in Turkey. Well-known brand in Iraq.

 

Supplier Overview

Company Name

Tazweed Commercial Solutions

Address

Duhok, Iraq

Does the supplier have its own production / manufacturing capacity?

No

Does the supplier have its own retail capacity?

Yes

Does the supplier have its own transport capacity?

Information not available

Does the supplier have its own storage facilities?

Yes

Approximate Turnover in MT

 

Rations: 15,000 MT/ Annual

Canned fish: 1,000 MT/ Annual

dry pulses: 10,000 MT/Annual

Payment Methods Accepted

Bank Transfer

Other Comments or Key Information

Based in Jordan and has branch in Iraq.

 


Primary Goods / Commodities Available

Commodities by Type**

(SITC Rev 4 Division Code - Title)

Comments

00 - Live animals (other than fish, crustaceans, molluscs, etc.)

i.e. sheep and goats, swine, poultry…

Sheep, goats, poultry, camels, cows and buffalo are available locally (breeding) and import is allowed except for poultry.

01 - Meat and meat preparations

i.e meat of bovine animals, meat of sheep, dried or smoked meat of swine, sausages…

Available, mostly are imported by privet sector.

Iraq is Islamic country, importation of dried or smoked meat of swine is not allowed.

02 - Dairy products and birds’ eggs

i.e. milk, yogurt, butter, cheese, eggs…

Available, local production and imported products. Eggs are on the yield of surpluses hence importation of egg is restricted at times of surpluses.

03 - Fish (not marine mammals), crustaceans, molluscs…

i.e. fish (chilled or frozen), fish (salted or in brine), fish liver and roes…

Fish is available and a surpluses commodity.

04 - Cereals and cereal preparations

i.e. wheat, rice, flour of maize, pasta...

Wheat flour is a surpluses commodity however import of WHF is needed for mixing with local product for quality purposes.

Yellow maize is surpluses commodity and available.

Rice is available in market, however local planted rice does not cover the local need and limited to specific types hence market is mainly importing rice.

05 - Vegetables and fruit

i.e. vegetables, fruit and nuts, jams/jellies, fruit juices…

Some fruit and vegetables are surpluses commodities such as onion, eggplants, watermelon, and dates.

However, all veg, and fruits are available in the market.

06 - Sugars, sugar preparations and honey

i.e. sugars (beet or cane) raw, natural honey, fruit/nuts preserved by sugar …

Sugar is produced locally (raw materials are exported). However, exportation is allowed, and market is a mix of locally produced and exported product.

07 - Coffee, tea, cocoa, spices and manufactures thereof

i.e. coffee, cocoa, chocolate, tea, mate, pepper…

Information is not available

09 - Miscellaneous edible products and preparations

i.e. ready-to-eat foods, margarine, sauces, soups and broths, yeasts…

Available in the market, both local produced and exported products.

41 - Animal oils and fats

i.e. lard, fats and oils…

Information is not available.

42/43 - Fixed vegetable fats and oils, crude, refined or fractionated

i.e. soya bean oil, olive oil, maize oil, vegetable oil…

Available in the market, both local produced and exported products.

**For non-food products please see section 3.5.2 Additional Suppliers, and for fuel/petroleum products please see section 3.1 Fuel.

For more information on food supplier contact details, please see the following link: 4.10 Iraq Supplier Contact List


Disclaimer: Inclusion of company information in the LCA does not imply any business relationship between the supplier and WFP / Logistics Cluster, and is used solely as a determinant of services, and capacities.

Please note: WFP / Logistics Cluster maintain complete impartiality and are not in a position to endorse, comment on any company's suitability as a reputable service provider.



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