Summary
Content
UNJLC’s recent inquiry into the current flow of goods into Iraq indicates that commercial trade is picking up. Iraqi entry point sources indicate that in spite of OFF traffic being at its peak, with fulfillment of some 3000 contracts remaining in the phasing out period, the total flow of commercial goods to Iraq outweighs that of OFF goods. The monitoring of individual entry points reveals that roughly 70 percent of Iraq destined goods via Trebil is commercial. Commercial and OFF volumes handled through Umm Qasr port seem to be at commensurate level. The flow of commercial cargo through Kuwait, which didn’t exist in the post-Gulf War period, is now in the vicinity of 15 to 18 hundred truckloads per week. Combined, commercial and OFF goods exceed the OFF traffic of previous years by a considerable margin, according to forwarders. This excludes military and reconstruction material which combined could equal the total flow of other goods.
The rise of commercial trade going through Trebil is quite impressive bearing in mind that one year ago it was non-existent. The climb of commercial activity was first marked by a surge in imports of second-hand cars, especially via Aqaba. However, the inquiry indicates that influx of other commercial goods is now picking up. Small traders mostly conduct trade going through Umm Qasr while authorized brand distributors have as of yet abstained from the Iraqi market due to security concerns. However, sources indicate that some major Kuwaiti companies are waiting in the starting blocks.