Iraq Has Sufficient Rice Stocks for 2026 Ration Cards, Ministry Says

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq’s Trade Ministry said on Monday that the country has enough rice in stock to meet this year’s needs under the ration-card system. Ministry spokesperson Mohammed Hinnoun said there was no supply crisis for the rice allocated to ration cards. Hinnoun said ration-card food imports do not pass through the Turkish straits. Rice is sourced from several origins through Jordan’s Port of Aqaba, reducing reliance on any single supplier. Previously sourced primarily from Thailand, Iraq now obtains rice from a range of origins, including the United States, Hinnoun said. The ministry reiterated that sufficient stocks are available for wheat, rice and other ration-card items this year. The statement came after Thailand said it had not imported any rice from Baghdad this year, compared with approximately 950,000 tons last year, following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.