Import Basmati Rice from India to Iraq
A clear, compliance-first guide to sourcing Indian basmati for the Iraqi market, covering export registrations, Iraqi conformity, documentation and shipping. Alstoe India Exports connects Iraqi buyers with a strong network of verified suppliers.
How to import basmati rice from India to Iraq
To import basmati rice from India to Iraq, the Indian supplier holds an Import Export Code (IEC) from the DGFT and is registered with APEDA, because basmati is an APEDA-scheduled product. Every shipment carries a Certificate of Origin, a Phytosanitary Certificate and a fumigation certificate. Before loading, the consignment needs a Certificate of Conformity (CoC) issued under Iraq's COSQC conformity programme after a pre-shipment inspection. On the buyer side, the Iraqi importer secures an import licence from the Ministry of Trade, and all packaging carries Arabic labelling with the country of origin and the manufacturing and expiry dates. Cargo ships from Indian ports such as Mundra, Kandla or Nhava Sheva (JNPT) to Umm Qasr for customs clearance and delivery.
What you need on each side of the trade
The requirements split cleanly into what the Indian exporter arranges and what applies on entry into Iraq. Use this as a checklist before your first shipment.
- Import Export Code (IEC), issued by DGFT
- APEDA registration (RCMC) for scheduled products
- Phytosanitary Certificate from plant quarantine
- Certificate of Origin from an authorised agency
- Fumigation certificate for the consignment
- Health and quality certificate for the cargo
- Import licence from the Iraqi Ministry of Trade
- Certificate of Conformity under the COSQC programme
- Arabic labelling with country of origin
- Manufacturing and expiry dates printed on the pack
- Halal certificate where the buyer requests it
- Shelf life stated per Iraqi food standards
How much basmati rice does Iraq import from India?
India supplies the majority of the world's basmati rice, and Iraq has grown into one of its largest single destinations.
During April to February of 2024-25, Iraq imported more than 700,000 tonnes of Indian basmati rice, roughly double the volume of the same period a year earlier. That growth moved Iraq to India's second-largest basmati market by volume, behind Saudi Arabia and ahead of Iran. Across the same year, the five leading destinations, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Yemen and the United Arab Emirates, together took close to 61 percent of India's basmati export volume.
For the Iraqi market, buyers most commonly source long-grain aromatic varieties in raw, steam and parboiled forms, packed to the grade and bag size their distribution channel requires. The demand base is broad, spanning wholesale trade, retail brands and institutional catering.
Trade figures reflect published Indian export data for April to February 2024-25 and are provided for context. Volumes vary year to year with harvest, freight and policy conditions.
Importing basmati rice from India to Iraq, step by step
Confirm Indian export registrations
The supplier must hold an IEC from the DGFT and be registered with APEDA. Basmati is a scheduled agricultural product, so APEDA registration is the base requirement for a compliant export.
Fix variety, grade and packing
Agree the variety, milling form and moisture, the bag size and the labelling. Samples are approved against the buyer's specification before the order is confirmed and packing begins.
Arrange the Iraqi Certificate of Conformity
A COSQC-appointed body carries out a pre-shipment inspection and testing in India and issues the Certificate of Conformity. Without a valid CoC, consignments are held or rejected at Iraqi customs.
Prepare the shipping documents
Commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin, phytosanitary certificate and fumigation certificate are compiled so the cargo clears cleanly at the destination port.
Ship to Umm Qasr
Cargo loads at Mundra, Kandla or Nhava Sheva and sails to Umm Qasr, the main deep-water port for southern Iraq. Transit typically runs around two to three weeks depending on routing and transshipment.
Clear customs and take delivery
The Iraqi importer clears the consignment against the import licence and the Certificate of Conformity, after which the cargo moves to the buyer's warehouse or distribution point.
What the Indian exporter must have in place
Registrations
- Import Export Code (IEC) from the DGFT
- APEDA registration cum membership for basmati
- GST registration for export invoicing
Quality and plant health
- Phytosanitary Certificate from plant quarantine
- Fumigation certificate for the container
- Quality and inspection reports from an accredited lab
Trade documents
- Certificate of Origin from an authorised agency
- Commercial invoice and packing list
- Bill of lading from the shipping line
Food safety and quality certifications such as FSSAI, HACCP and ISO are held across the supplier and manufacturer network, and the relevant certificates travel with each consignment. Alstoe coordinates the paperwork end to end so an Iraqi buyer receives a document set that matches the order and the destination requirements.
Rules that apply on entry into Iraq
Certificate of Conformity
- Mandatory under the COSQC conformity programme
- Issued in India after pre-shipment inspection and testing
- No valid CoC means the cargo is held or turned away
Import licence
- Secured by the Iraqi buyer from the Ministry of Trade
- Southern Iraq and the Kurdistan region follow separate procedures
- Rice sits among staple foods that Iraq imports in volume
Labelling and packing
- Arabic labelling with the product name and country of origin
- Manufacturing and expiry dates printed on the pack, not on removable tags
- Net weight and shelf life stated per Iraqi food standards
Halal certification is not required for rice in the same way it is for meat, but many Iraqi buyers ask for it as a condition of purchase, and the supplier network can arrange it. Requirements are set by the Iraqi authorities and can change, so the exact certificate set is confirmed for each shipment before loading.
Documents that travel with the shipment
For clean clearance at Umm Qasr, the following accompany a basmati consignment. The precise set is confirmed against the order and the buyer's bank and customs requirements.
- Commercial invoice
- Packing list
- Bill of lading
- Certificate of Origin
- Phytosanitary Certificate
- Fumigation certificate
- Certificate of Conformity (COSQC)
- Health and quality certificate
- Weight certificate
- Halal certificate (on request)
- Insurance certificate (for CIF terms)
- Shipping and freight documents
Ports, containers and packing options
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Loading ports in India | Mundra, Kandla (Deendayal) and Nhava Sheva (JNPT) |
| Destination port | Umm Qasr, the main deep-water port serving southern Iraq near Basra |
| Containers | 20 ft and 40 ft, with rice usually moving in weight-optimised 20 ft units |
| Packing | Woven polypropylene or jute bags in common sizes from 5 to 50 kg, or as the buyer specifies, with branded printing on request |
| Transit time | Around two to three weeks, depending on the routing and any transshipment |
| Trade terms | FOB, CFR and CIF are all workable, agreed at the time of order |
Basmati varieties and forms for the Iraqi market
The supplier network mills and packs a full spread of basmati varieties in the processing forms Iraqi buyers ask for. Every lot is packed to an agreed grade and specification.
1121 Basmati
A widely exported long-grain variety valued for the length its grains reach after cooking.
1509 Basmati
An early-maturing long-grain variety with a light, fluffy texture, suited to everyday and volume supply.
Pusa Basmati
A long-grain aromatic variety that cooks up separate and non-sticky, used across retail and catering.
Sharbati Basmati
A versatile long-grain variety balancing aroma and yield for high-volume buyers.
| Varieties | Processing forms | Common bag sizes |
|---|---|---|
| 1121 Basmati | Raw (white) | 5 kg |
| 1509 Basmati | Steam | 10 kg |
| 1718 Basmati | Sella (parboiled) | 25 kg |
| 1401 and 1885 Basmati | Golden Sella | 40 kg |
| Pusa, Sugandha and Sharbati | Lemon Sella | 50 kg or buyer specified |
Traditional and other varieties are available to order. Specification, grain length and moisture are agreed against approved samples before packing.
Sourcing white rice as well? See the non-basmati rice range for Iraq and wider markets.
A single point of contact for Iraq-bound basmati
Verified supplier network
- A strong network of verified suppliers and mills across India's basmati belt
- Samples approved before every order is confirmed
Compliance handled
- Export registrations, phytosanitary and origin documents coordinated for you
- Consignments prepared for Iraq's COSQC conformity requirements
Clear commercial terms
- Orders on advance payment or letter of credit
- FOB, CFR or CIF agreed up front with no surprises
Alstoe supplies the same verified basmati range across the Gulf. Explore the full basmati rice range, or see related markets below.
Importing basmati rice from India to Iraq: FAQs
What licences are needed to import basmati rice from India to Iraq?
On the Indian side, the supplier needs an Import Export Code from the DGFT and APEDA registration, since basmati is a scheduled product. On the Iraqi side, the importer needs an import licence from the Ministry of Trade, and each shipment needs a Certificate of Conformity under the COSQC programme.
Is a Certificate of Conformity mandatory for rice going into Iraq?
Yes. Iraq runs a conformity programme through COSQC that requires pre-shipment inspection, testing and a Certificate of Conformity issued in the country of origin. Shipments that arrive without a valid CoC are held or rejected at Iraqi customs, so the CoC is arranged before the cargo loads.
Which port do basmati shipments to Iraq use?
Most sea shipments to Iraq arrive at Umm Qasr, the main deep-water port for southern Iraq near Basra. Cargo typically loads at Mundra, Kandla or Nhava Sheva in India.
What documents accompany a basmati consignment to Iraq?
The core set is the commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin, phytosanitary certificate, fumigation certificate, Certificate of Conformity and a health and quality certificate. A halal certificate is added when the buyer asks for one.
Does basmati rice packaging for Iraq need Arabic labelling?
Yes. Packaging must carry Arabic labelling that shows the product name, country of origin, net weight, and the manufacturing and expiry dates. Dates are printed on the pack rather than on removable tags, in line with Iraqi food standards.
How long does shipping from India to Iraq take?
Sea transit to Umm Qasr generally runs around two to three weeks, depending on the shipping line, routing and any transshipment. Timelines are confirmed at the time of booking.
What are the payment terms?
Orders are handled on advance payment or against a letter of credit. The commercial terms, including FOB, CFR or CIF, are agreed before the order is confirmed.
Can you supply a specific variety, grade and bag size?
Yes. The supplier network covers the main basmati varieties in raw, steam and parboiled forms, packed from small retail bags up to bulk sizes. Specification and grade are approved against samples before packing.
Source basmati rice for Iraq
Share your variety, grade, quantity and destination, and Alstoe India Exports will prepare a quotation with samples from a verified supplier network. Orders on advance payment or letter of credit.