Regional trade shifts: Iran turns to Iraq to secure the flow of its goods.

Iran is moving towards strengthening the use of Iraq as an alternative trade route, after some traditional shipping routes through the UAE faltered and gas supplies to the Iraqi market declined, which was reflected in the volume of trade exchange between the two countries during the recent period.

Statements issued by the Iran-Iraq Joint Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, and followed by Shafaq News Agency, indicated that Tehran is working to activate alternative routes for transporting goods, after difficulties encountered in using major ports and logistics hubs, most notably the Jebel Ali port in the UAE, which used to be an important transit point for Iranian trade towards multiple markets.

According to the data, these transformations have prompted Iran to study alternative transportation options that include Iraq and a number of other countries, with the aim of ensuring the continued flow of goods and reducing dependence on a single route, in light of the changes taking place in the regional and commercial landscape.

In the same context, the Iraqi-Iranian side indicated that the volume of trade exchange between the two countries was partially affected by the decrease in Iranian gas supplies, which led to a relative decline in the overall figures during the recent period, with expectations of a gradual return of trade activity if supplies improve and transport routes stabilize.

Shafaq.com