A truck loaded with newly imported cars in Iraq, as authorities consider new regulations to control vehicle imports amid rising congestion and increasing numbers of registered vehicles.
Eight million vehicles on roads
Iraq weighs new car import rules as vehicle numbers surge
BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Ministry of Trade is eyeing stricter regulations on vehicle imports after the country’s car fleet surpassed eight million—a figure that far exceeds the capacity of its existing road infrastructure.
Hashem Al-Sudani, director general of the State Company for Automotive Trading, told the Iraqi News Agency on Monday that the nation has been importing and registering about 200,000 cars annually for the past four years.
“The latest statistics from 2024 indicate that there are now 8 million vehicles in Iraq,” Al-Sudani said. “The road infrastructure, however, was originally designed to accommodate only 5 million cars—meaning that 3 million vehicles exceed the country’s road capacity.”
Currently, Iraq imposes few restrictions on vehicle imports after the removal of the import license requirement. Al-Sudani explained that existing controls are limited to customs checks, quality control, and ensuring compliance with Iraqi or Gulf standards—allowing cars that meet these criteria to enter with little hindrance.
“There is a huge influx of cars because there are no restrictions or controls limiting their entry,” he said.
To tackle the surge, the Ministerial Council for Economy has established committees to evaluate and regulate both the types and numbers of vehicles entering the country. A study outlining potential restrictions has already been submitted to the council, and if approved by the Council of Ministers, new limitations on vehicle imports could be implemented. Al-Sudani assured that any new measures would be designed to avoid burdening citizens or affecting car prices.
“We are working to maintain a balance in the car market while ensuring that regulations do not burden citizens,” he said. “Unlike neighboring countries, where customs duties on cars can multiply the vehicle’s price, Iraq still sees a high number of vehicle imports despite existing tariffs.”
The Kurdistan Regional Government has long enforced strict regulations on vehicle imports. Under the KRG policy, only vehicles up to two years old are permitted. Despite these restrictions, the region experienced a surge in imports—171,952 vehicles entered in 2024, up sharply from 122,000 in 2023.