Damascus chamber official says Turkish competition pressures Syrian exports to Iraq

DAMASCUS, Syria — Syrian exports to Iraq face logistical and technical difficulties, with competition from Turkish products a key factor weighing on the trade, according to Mohammed Hallak, head of the economics association at the Damascus Chamber of Commerce. Speaking from Damascus, Hallak said transport and procedural problems at border crossings had slowed the flow of Syrian goods, while Turkish products held an advantage in the Iraqi market through competitive pricing, wider distribution networks and greater working capital. The reopening of border crossings between Syria and Iraq has eased trade, Hallak said, but the deeper challenge lies in shifting Iraqi consumer demand and intensifying competition among imports. He added that declining purchasing power and reduced cash liquidity in Iraq have weakened the business environment compared with previous periods, and that trade fairs and promotional events have not been held at their former scale. Hallak noted that the irregular availability of Syrian products and weak permanent trade fairs have hurt their market position. Price, he said, has become the main determinant for consumers, who now favor lower-cost goods of acceptable quality. While Syrian products still hold a good reputation among Iraqi consumers, Hallak said regaining market share would require supporting local production, cutting manufacturing and transport costs and ensuring uninterrupted delivery to target markets.