By Susan Reidy

BAGHDAD, IRAQ — US rice sales to Iraq have reached 220,000 tonnes for 2025, following delays last season that prevented the nation from fulfilling its memorandum of understanding.

The most recent was a sale of 44,000 tonnes of US long grain which will set sail later this fall, said USA Rice.

Iraq is consistently a top 10 export market for US 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.

While those financial restrictions are still in place, the US rice industry has managed to continue sales to this important market, USA Rice said.

“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.”

Rice is the largest US agricultural commodity exported to Iraq and is an essential product in regular allotments of food items the Iraqi government provides to their citizens.

Published Date: May 30, 2025