Iraq Retail Foods Annual 2012 Report
Report Highlights:
This report provides U.S. food and agricultural product exporters an overview of the Iraqi retail food sector. The country’s security situation remains precarious. Political disharmony in 2012 did weigh down on the economy. U.S.-origin food and agricultural product imports at $147 million in 2012 are down nearly 78 percent compared to $658 million in 2011.
However, economic growth is now being forecast at 9 percent in 2013-17 thanks to booming export oil revenues and increased capital spending. As economic growth and employment levels increase, commercial opportunities improve for U.S. exporters of condiments, gourmet foods, dairy products, and fresh produce. Despite the Iraqi public sector’s dominant presence in food retailing, there is strong demand for private sector investment in import friendly modern, western-style supermarkets. Iraq’s Ministry of Trade, through the Public Food Distribution System, continues to subsidize five basic
staple food commodities. Iraqi demand for food grew by 25 percent in 2010-11.
