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The twenty imports Iraq is best placed to replace.

Iraq imported USD 40bn of manufactured goods in 2024 and exported USD 125m. These are the twenty that sit closest to what it already makes well, with how concentrated the supply of each is.

USD 3.0bnthe twenty, imported in 2024
275products imported at scale, not yet exported well, and close to existing strengths
19products Iraq already exports well
650product lines imported at USD 10m or more
The twenty

Demand, capability, exposure. Nothing else is claimed.

Each line shows the import bill, where it comes from, the nearest thing Iraq already exports well, and how many countries make it. It does not say whether a plant in Iraq would pay. That reason is not in any trade record, and it is the maker's question.

This edition is trade and capability only, scored out of 8. The UK edition adds which public bodies buy each product and which region holds the capability; those layers are built only where a country publishes contract awards and regional trade, and Iraq does not publish them in a form this record can read yet.

  1. 1

    Sanitary towels (pads) and tampons, napkins (diapers), napkin liners and similar articles, of any materialHS 961900

    Comes fromTurkey 78%, 20 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone named
    Exports of this lineUSD 231k
    Countries that export it well34

    Score 8 of 8: import bill USD 348m, top 1 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Iraq's export strengths in the top 6 per cent (3); Turkey supplies 78 per cent (2).

    USD 348mup 7% on 2022
  2. 2

    Vegetable preparations: tomatoes, (other than whole or in pieces), prepared or preserved otherwise than by vinegar or...HS 200290

    Comes fromChina 66%, 9 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone named
    Exports of this lineUSD 152k
    Countries that export it well24

    Score 8 of 8: import bill USD 238m, top 3 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Iraq's export strengths in the top 9 per cent (3); China supplies 66 per cent (2).

    USD 238mdown 43% on 2022
  3. 3

    Food preparations: bakers' wares n.e.c. in heading no. 1605, whether or not containing cocoa: communion wafers, empty...HS 190590

    Comes fromTurkey 83%, 34 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone named
    Exports of this lineUSD 253k; 2 more lines in the heading, USD 371m
    Countries that export it well47

    Score 8 of 8: import bill USD 198m, top 4 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Iraq's export strengths in the top 5 per cent (3); Turkey supplies 83 per cent (2).

    USD 198mdown 17% on 2022
  4. 4

    Cigarettes: containing tobaccoHS 240220

    Comes fromArmenia 59%, 19 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone named
    Exports of this lineUSD 46k
    Countries that export it well41

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 323m, top 2 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Iraq's export strengths in the top 4 per cent (3); Armenia supplies 59 per cent (1).

    USD 323mdown 75% on 2022
  5. 5

    Dog or cat food: (not put up for retail sale), used in animal feedingHS 230990

    Comes fromTurkey 58%, 35 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone named
    Exports of this lineUSD 227k; 1 more line in the heading, USD 26m
    Countries that export it well48

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 215m, top 4 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Iraq's export strengths in the top 2 per cent (3); Turkey supplies 58 per cent (1).

    USD 215mdown 19% on 2022
  6. 6

    Aluminium: alloys, bars, rods and profiles, other than hollowHS 760429

    Comes fromTurkey 95%, 15 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone named
    Exports of this linenone recorded; 1 more line in the heading, USD 79m
    Countries that export it well31

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 194m, top 4 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Iraq's export strengths in the top 19 per cent (2); Turkey supplies 95 per cent (2).

    USD 194mup 11% on 2022
  7. 7

    Medium density fibreboard (MDF), of a thickness exceeding 9 mmHS 441114

    Comes fromTurkey 90%, 11 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone named
    Exports of this linenone recorded; 1 more line in the heading, USD 16m
    Countries that export it well30

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 146m, top 8 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Iraq's export strengths in the top 13 per cent (2); Turkey supplies 90 per cent (2).

    USD 146mup 17% on 2022
  8. 8

    Copper: stranded wire, cables, plaited bands and the like, not electrically insulatedHS 741300

    Comes fromSaudi Arabia 99%, 14 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone named
    Exports of this lineUSD 8m
    Countries that export it well20

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 142m, top 8 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Iraq's export strengths in the top 22 per cent (2); Saudi Arabia supplies 99 per cent (2).

    USD 142mup 62% on 2022
  9. 9

    Food preparations: pasta, containing eggs, uncooked, not stuffed or otherwise preparedHS 190211

    Comes fromSaudi Arabia 98%, 8 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone named
    Exports of this linenone recorded; 2 more lines in the heading, USD 88m
    Countries that export it well18

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 127m, top 9 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Iraq's export strengths in the top 25 per cent (2); Saudi Arabia supplies 98 per cent (2).

    USD 127mfrom USD 14m in 2022
  10. 10

    Mechanical appliances: agricultural or horticultural, n.e.c. in heading 8424HS 842482

    Comes fromSaudi Arabia 66%, 10 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone named
    Exports of this linenone recorded; 2 more lines in the heading, USD 23m
    Countries that export it well18

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 127m, top 9 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Iraq's export strengths in the top 19 per cent (2); Saudi Arabia supplies 66 per cent (2).

    USD 127mup 160% on 2022
  11. 11

    Carpets and other textile floor coverings: woven, (not tufted or flocked), of man-made textile materials, of pile...HS 570242

    Comes fromTurkey 93%, 8 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone named
    Exports of this lineUSD 53k; 3 more lines in the heading, USD 73m
    Countries that export it well13

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 125m, top 9 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Iraq's export strengths in the top 22 per cent (2); Turkey supplies 93 per cent (2).

    USD 125mup 19% on 2022
  12. 12

    Track suits and other garments n.e.c.: men's or boys', of man-made fibres (not knitted or crocheted)HS 621133

    Comes fromChina 98%, 19 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone named
    Exports of this lineUSD 1k; 1 more line in the heading, USD 27m
    Countries that export it well36

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 122m, top 10 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Iraq's export strengths in the top 13 per cent (2); China supplies 98 per cent (2).

    USD 122mup 49% on 2022
  13. 13

    Washing and cleaning preparations: powders, flakes and granules, surface-active, whether or not containing soap...HS 340250

    Comes fromTurkey 71%, 30 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone named
    Exports of this lineUSD 314k; 2 more lines in the heading, USD 54m
    Countries that export it well39

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 106m, top 11 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Iraq's export strengths in the top 3 per cent (3); Turkey supplies 71 per cent (2).

    USD 106mup 14% on 2022
  14. 14

    Sugar confectionery: (excluding chewing gum, including white chocolate), not containing cocoaHS 170490

    Comes fromTurkey 61%, 38 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone named
    Exports of this lineUSD 794k; 1 more line in the heading, USD 20m
    Countries that export it well37

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 102m, top 12 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Iraq's export strengths in the top 10 per cent (3); Turkey supplies 61 per cent (2).

    USD 102mdown 34% on 2022
  15. 15

    Chocolate and other food preparations containing cocoa: n.e.c. in chapter 18HS 180690

    Comes fromTurkey 65%, 39 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone named
    Exports of this lineUSD 76k; 3 more lines in the heading, USD 151m
    Countries that export it well35

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 95m, top 12 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Iraq's export strengths in the top 10 per cent (3); Turkey supplies 65 per cent (2).

    USD 95mup 5% on 2022
  16. 16

    Fertilizers, mineral or chemical: diammonium hydrogenorthophosphate (diammonium phosphate)HS 310530

    Comes fromTurkey 79%, 3 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone named
    Exports of this linenone recorded; 2 more lines in the heading, USD 41m
    Countries that export it well17

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 90m, top 14 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Iraq's export strengths in the top 4 per cent (3); Turkey supplies 79 per cent (2).

    USD 90mup 18% on 2022
  17. 17

    Marble, travertine and alabaster: simply cut or sawn, with a flat or even surfaceHS 680221

    Comes fromTurkey 90%, 9 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone named
    Exports of this lineUSD 136k; 2 more lines in the heading, USD 37m
    Countries that export it well20

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 88m, top 14 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Iraq's export strengths in the top 6 per cent (3); Turkey supplies 90 per cent (2).

    USD 88mdown 20% on 2022
  18. 18

    Iron or non-alloy steel: bars and rods, forged, hot-rolled, hot-drawn or hot-extruded, but including those twisted...HS 721410

    Comes fromSaudi Arabia 100%, 3 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone named
    Exports of this linenone recorded; 1 more line in the heading, USD 13m
    Countries that export it well10

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 87m, top 14 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Iraq's export strengths in the top 1 per cent (3); Saudi Arabia supplies 100 per cent (2).

    USD 87mfrom USD 149k in 2022
  19. 19

    Iron or steel (excluding cast iron): tubes, pipes and hollow profiles (not seamless), welded, of square or rectangular...HS 730661

    Comes fromTurkey 76%, 7 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone named
    Exports of this lineUSD 8k; 2 more lines in the heading, USD 57m
    Countries that export it well40

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 83m, top 15 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Iraq's export strengths in the top 1 per cent (3); Turkey supplies 76 per cent (2).

    USD 83mdown 45% on 2022
  20. 20

    Boring or sinking machinery: parts for boring or sinking machinery of subheading 8430.41 or 8430.49HS 843143

    Comes fromChina 74%, 26 source countries
    Nearest export strengthnone named
    Exports of this lineUSD 36k; 3 more lines in the heading, USD 65m
    Countries that export it well26

    Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 81m, top 16 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Iraq's export strengths in the top 3 per cent (3); China supplies 74 per cent (2).

    USD 81mdown 45% on 2022

The bill and its path, the sources and their unit values, who exports the line well, the nearest strengths, the public buyers where a country publishes them, and the method. We reply by email. Privacy

One line per customs heading. Products Iraq already exports well and still imports are below, because they are a different conversation. No employment figures appear on this page, by decision.

Made here already, still imported

Scale conversations, not capability ones.

No line where the country already exports well and still imports more than it sells abroad.

How the twenty were chosen

Three scores, each from a field the record carries.

Import bill, 0 to 3, by percentile among the 650 lines imported at USD 10m or more: above the median one point, top quarter two, top tenth three.

Proximity to export strengths, 0 to 3, on the same percentiles: the product-space method (Hidalgo, Klinger, Barabasi and Hausmann, Science 2007) on CEPII's BACI file of every bilateral trade flow for 2024, 157 countries and 5,388 products. Two products are close when the countries that export one well tend to export the other well. Only products in the upper half for proximity can enter the list at all: best placed is a proximity claim.

Supply concentration, 0 to 2: one point when a single country supplies 40 per cent or more, two at 60 per cent.

Scope. Manufactured goods, customs chapters 16 to 96, excluding ores, fuels and precious metals. Primary agriculture is out of scope for a page about manufacture.

What it cannot tell you

A map of where to look.

Trade data says what crossed the border, not why. Cost, scale, patents, tariffs and the plain fact that a supplier is good at it are all invisible here. The world file reconciles what each pair of countries reports, so a national customs file would differ in detail. Nothing on this page is a forecast or a promise.

Source: CEPII BACI, HS22, version 202601, years 2022 to 2024. Edition of 2026-11-03. The UK edition with its procurement and regional layers is at /made-here/.

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