Iraq lifts wheat shipment ban in Nineveh as 2026 marketing season ends

Nineveh Deputy Governor and Provincial Harvest Supreme Committee Chairman Gazwan Hamid al-Dawudi announced Thursday that previous decisions banning the transport and trade of wheat from the governorate to other Iraqi provinces have been revoked. Al-Dawudi said the governor's office issued an official circular to security agencies, agricultural organizations and relevant authorities, rescinding the administrative order that had restricted wheat trade during the marketing period. The decision was based on a letter from the General Company for Grain Trade and the conclusion of the 2026 wheat marketing season. Under the new directive, wheat may officially be transported from Nineveh to other Iraqi provinces in accordance with established rules and instructions. Al-Dawudi said the regulation aims to prevent the movement of grain outside approved delivery centers, curb irregularities, and ensure that harvests are delivered to state silos. Officials said the lifting of the ban reflects coordination between provincial authorities and federal grain trade agencies as the marketing season wraps up.