Shipping from USA to Iraq — Freight Cost & Transit Times
A standard 40ft container from Houston to Umm Qasr costs approximately US$4,200 (range $3,696–$4,830) with a total sea transit of 38 days and typical door-to-door lead time of 45–49 days including port handling and customs clearance. Iraq applies 5% customs duty and 0% VAT on imported goods.
Freight & duty summary
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| 40ft container (low–high) | $3,696 – $4,830 |
| 20ft container (low–high) | $2,402 – $3,139 |
| Origin ports | Houston, Los Angeles, New York |
| Destination ports | Umm Qasr, Basra |
| Major carriers | Maersk, MSC, CMA CGM |
| Customs duty | 5% |
| VAT | None |
| FTA benefit | Standard MFN rates apply |
Indicative General Cargo rates; refreshed monthly by DocMakTrade's trade desk.
Departure port comparison — USA to Iraq
| Departure port | 40ft (USD) | 20ft (USD) | Sea transit (days) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | $4,200 | $2,730 | 38 |
| Los Angeles | $4,536 | $2,948 | 38 |
| New York | $4,410 | $2,867 | 38 |
Rates differ by loading port because of terminal handling and inland positioning costs in USA.
Freight cost comparison — most requested lanes into Iraq
Indicative 40ft container freight into Iraq across the lanes importers request most often. The USA lane is highlighted, so you can see instantly whether switching origin would materially change your ocean freight line item. Figures are the mid-point of each lane's assessed range and exclude duty, VAT and destination clearance.
- India → Iraq — $1,500 per 40ft container (indicative)
- Turkey → Iraq — $1,900 per 40ft container (indicative)
- China → Iraq — $2,200 per 40ft container (indicative)
- Vietnam → Iraq — $2,300 per 40ft container (indicative)
- South Korea → Iraq — $2,400 per 40ft container (indicative)
- Italy → Iraq — $2,900 per 40ft container (indicative)
- Netherlands → Iraq — $3,038 per 40ft container (indicative)
Documents and customs for Iraq
Documents usually required
- Commercial invoice (signed, showing HS codes and Incoterm)
- Packing list with gross/net weights and package marks
- Bill of lading (original, telex release or sea waybill)
- Certificate of origin (chamber-attested where requested)
- Certificate of Conformity (CoC) under Iraq's pre-shipment verification programme
Customs notes
- Standard duty 5%, but many categories carry 15–30%. Reconstruction fee 5% often applies.
- Typical customs clearance at Umm Qasr: 3–7 working days once documents are complete.
- VAT base: CIF value; settlement currency IQD.
- Trade agreements recognised by Iraq: GAFTA.
Prepare the paperwork with the commercial invoice, packing list and certificate of origin makers, then check the full Iraq import guide.
Best time to ship USA → Iraq
Rates are usually steadiest January–May; the August–November peak season can raise rates and lengthen rollovers.
What moves on the USA → Iraq lane
The USA supplies polymers, agricultural commodities, oilfield equipment and specialty chemicals, largely out of Houston on the Gulf Coast.
The longest lane in this set — Houston sailings route via the Mediterranean or the Cape, and rates carry a structural premium.
Iraq's sea imports move through Umm Qasr and Basra, dominated by reconstruction materials, foodstuffs and industrial inputs.
Commodities commonly imported from USA
Arrival ports in Iraq
Other origins shipping to Iraq
Other destinations from USA
Run the numbers for this lane
Frequently asked questions
Explore more on DocMakTrade
Import destinations
Popular shipping routes
Ready to run the numbers?
Run the freight estimator for USA → Iraq.