Iraq’s wheat reserves sufficient through year-end, official says

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s state-owned General Company for Grain Trade confirmed Saturday that the country’s wheat reserves are sufficient to meet domestic needs through the end of the year, with upcoming procurement expected to strengthen strategic stocks for 2027.

Director General Haider al-Karawi told the Iraqi News Agency that “we have reserves that are sufficient until the end of the year, and everything we receive during the upcoming marketing season will serve as strategic stock for 2027.”

He added that current wheat stocks amount to approximately 3.7 million tons, which he said are enough to cover consumption through the remainder of 2026.

In November 2025, Iraq’s Agriculture Ministry said the 2025–26 winter farming plan will cover about 1.1 million acres using modern irrigation.

Iraq has experienced record wheat production and achieved self-sufficiency in wheat for several seasons in a row, with production reaching over 5 million tonnes in recent years.

The Iraqi government buys wheat directly from farmers through a procurement program at fixed prices, in order to guarantee income for local farmers, stabilize supply, and bolster food security. This program involves setting annual quotas and purchasing large quantities of wheat during the marketing season, which are then stored in government silos across the country.