2026-05-31T14:38:49+00:00
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Shafaq News- Baghdad/ Amman
A shipment carrying 44,000 tons of US rice designated for
Iraq arrived at Jordan’s Aqaba Port on Sunday despite shipping disruptions and
maritime restrictions affecting regional trade routes, Iraq’s Ministry of Trade
stated.
Lama Hashem Al-Moussawi, Director General of the State
Company for Foodstuff Trading, noted that the company continues to implement
its 2026 distribution plan for the food basket and social welfare programs,
ensuring the uninterrupted supply of essential food items. She added that “the
company is closely monitoring shipping and unloading operations while
coordinating with relevant authorities to ensure the timely delivery of
supplies to warehouses and distribution centers across Iraq.”
On May 22, Mahmoud Khalifat, Director General of the Aqaba
Ports Corporation, announced that five cargo ships carrying food and industrial
goods for Iraq had docked at Aqaba Port. Jordanian authorities also reported
receiving 100,000 tons of vegetable oils destined for Iraq, while additional
shipments carrying rice, corn, sugar, iron, and timber were awaiting unloading.
Regional shipping routes have faced sustained disruption
since the US-Israeli war on Iran began on Feb. 28, which prompted Iranian
missile and drone attacks against Israel and US military facilities across the
Middle East. Tehran subsequently declared a full closure of the Strait of
Hormuz to international shipping, forcing traders and importers to rely
increasingly on alternative routes.
Read more: Hormuz lockdown: Iraq’s economic lifeline under threat