Iraq lifts wheat shipment ban in Nineveh ahead of 2026 marketing season end

MOSUL, Iraq — Nineveh province has lifted a ban on shipping and trading wheat to other Iraqi governorates, Deputy Governor Gazwan Hamid al-Dawudi said on Thursday. The decision was issued through an official circular from the governor's office to security bodies, agricultural agencies and other relevant authorities. The reversal came in response to correspondence from the General Company for Grain Trade and the approaching end of the 2026 wheat marketing season, al-Dawudi, who chairs the provincial harvest committee, said. Under the new directive, wheat can now be transported from Nineveh to other provinces in line with established rules and instructions. Al-Dawudi said the framework is designed to prevent grain from being moved outside approved delivery centers, curb irregularities and ensure that the harvest reaches state silos. No further details on implementation timelines or quantities were immediately available.