Iraq‘s imports of plastic raw materials grew by 21% annually between 2011 and 2024, from 40 kt to 483 kt!

With imports of 483 kt of plastic in primary forms, Iraq is the third largest Arab importer of such materials in the Middle East after the UAE and Saudi Arabia, ahead of Jordan with 263 kt, Oman 202 kt, Lebanon 197 kt, Kuwait 105 kt and Qatar 93 kt.

Largest exporting countries of plastic raw material in the Middle East in 2024

• Saudi Arabia 14,187 kt
• United Arab Emirates 4,796 kt
• Iran 2,822 kt
• Qatar 1,902 kt
• Kuwait 659 kt
• Oman 206 kt

Source: EUROMAP  May 2025/ Graph: fairtrade

Iraq‘s plastic consumption per capita

Per capita plastic consumption in Iraq has grown by 22% annually over the past years, from 0.5 kg in 2009 to 10.2 kg in 2024.

Source: EUROMAP  2025/ Graph: fairtrade

Iraq‘s plastic consumption by application

59% of consumption is accounted for by packaging, 21% by the construction industry, 3% for electrical, electronics and telecom, 3% for automotive and the remainder by various items..

Source: EUROMAP / Graph: fairtrade

Iraq‘s plastic consumption by processing method

In plastics processing, extrusion leads with 48%, followed by injection molding with 17%, PET preform & stretch blow molding with 15%, blow molding with 10% and EPS foam molding with 1% and the remainder by various items.

Source: EUROMAP / Graph: fairtrade

Iraq is the third largest Arab importing country of plastics technology in the Middle East

• Between 2017 and 2023, Iraq’s imports of plastics technology increased with an annual growth rate of 15.7%, from 20 million euros to 48 million euros. (VDMA)

• This makes Iraq the third largest Arab importing country of such technology in the Middle East.

• A clear signal of the political will to expand local production and the „Made-in-Iraq“ trend.

• Continuous growth is expected in the coming years.

Source: VDMA / Graph: fairtrade

Iraq is the third largest Arab importing country of printing & paper converting technology in the Arab Middle East

• From 2017 to 2023, Iraq’s printing & paper technology imports increased by 34% annually, from €5 to €29m.
• This makes Iraq one of the largest importing countries of printing & paper processing
  technology in the Arab Middle East.
• Continuous growth is expected in the coming years.

Source: VDMA / Graph: fairtrade

Iraq is the third largest Arab importing country of packaging technology in the Middle East

• Between 2018 and 2023, Iraq’s imports of packaging technology increased with an annual growth rate of 17.9%, from 47 million euros to 107 million euros. (VDMA)

• This makes Iraq the third largest Arab importing country of such technology in the Middle East.

• A clear signal of the political will to expand local production and the „Made-in-Iraq“ trend.

Source: VDMA / Graph: fairtrade