Market research

Beef and buffalo meat market in Iraq, 2026

Release date: Mar 30, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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File format: docx, xlsx

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Earlier Report Observations

Between 2018 and 2023, the Iraqi beef and buffalo meat market expanded from 115.6 thousand tons to 163.9 thousand tons, primarily fueled by a surge in imports from 79.2 thousand tons to 122.8 thousand tons. Domestic production saw a more moderate increase from 36.4 thousand tons to 41.2 thousand tons over the same period. This growth was supported by government initiatives, including the import of improved cattle and buffalo breeds to enhance local meat quality and the provision of barley flour feed to alleviate pasture shortages.

After a stable start, the market contracted to 102.4 thousand tons in 2020, a year marked by water scarcity and climate issues that pressured herd management. The subsequent recovery was driven by multiple factors: the 2020 removal of customs duties on meat imports facilitated greater foreign supply, while spikes in consumption during Ramadan and Eid al-Adha lifted demand in 2021 and 2022. Notably, increased offerings of Brazilian beef boosted import volumes in 2022. By 2023, strong Ramadan demand and continued imports of improved breeds helped push the market to 163.9 thousand tons. More recently, efforts to import frozen meat by air and tighter packaging standards aligned with food safety regulations have further influenced supply dynamics.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Iraq
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Iraq in kind, 2018-2023, t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in Iraq in value, 2018-2023, $ US
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Imports
1. 6.1. Imports (Direct Data*)
  1. 6.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Imports in kind, K t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Iraq in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Iraq by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Iraq in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Iraq by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Iraq, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Iraq by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, K t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Iraq in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Iraq by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Iraq in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Iraq by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Iraq, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Iraq by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Exports
1. 7.1. Exports (Direct Data*)
  1. 7.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Exports in kind, K t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Iraq in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Iraq by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Iraq in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Iraq by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Iraq, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Iraq by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Exports in kind, K t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Iraq in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Iraq by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Iraq in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Iraq by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Iraq, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Iraq by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, M $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, M $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production beef and buffalo meat in Iraq

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of beef and buffalo meat, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of beef and buffalo meat, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Iraq's beef and buffalo meat production has increased for the second year in a row. In 2020, the country produced 39 691 tonnes, marking a modest 3.3% rise compared to 2019. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 7.6%, with an average annual growth rate of 2.5%. The lowest production level was recorded in 2018 at 36 405 tonnes, which saw a decline of 1.3%. In contrast, 2019 experienced the largest increase of 5.6%.

Annual dynamics of production in Iraq in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(1.3%)	5.6%	3.3%	2.5%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports beef and buffalo meat from Iraq

Exports in kind, t

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Iraq in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Iraq's exports in kind were heavily concentrated, with Iran and Turkey together accounting for 100.0% of the total volume.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Iraq in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, M $ US

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Iraq in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, Iran and Turkey were the top two destinations for Iraq's beef and buffalo meat exports in value terms, jointly making up 100.0% of the total.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Iraq in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports beef and buffalo meat to Iraq

Imports in kind, t

Iraq's imports of beef and buffalo meat have fallen for the second consecutive year. In 2020, imports dropped to 62 757 tonnes, a significant decrease of 20.5% from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports declined by 12.4%, with an average annual reduction of 4.3%. The highest import volume was in 2018 at 79 222 tonnes, which saw an increase of 10.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Iraq in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	10.6%	(0.4%)	(20.5%)	(4.3%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, India dominated Iraq's imports in kind, holding 89.5% of the total volume, while the remainder was distributed among various countries with smaller individual shares.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Iraq in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, M $ US

Iraq's beef and buffalo meat imports have decreased for the second year in a row. In 2020, imports totaled 167.2 million US dollars, down 14.5% compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 span, imports fell by 10.6%, with an average annual decline of 3.7%. The peak value was recorded in 2018 at 216.4 million US dollars, which experienced a 15.7% increase.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Iraq in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	15.7%	(9.6%)	(14.5%)	(3.7%)

Source: SHEV.io

Throughout 2017-2020, the structure of Iraq's imports in value terms was heavily focused on India, which accounted for 84.4% of the total, while other markets contributed to a lesser extent.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Iraq in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io