Market research

Melons market in Iraq

Release date: Mar 28, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

The melon market in Iraq began the period at 264 thousand tonnes in 2018, with local production facing challenges from land degradation that reduced output and increased reliance on imports. Unchecked competition from Iranian melons also pressured domestic growers, despite the high quality of local varieties such as Samarra melons. Market volume remained stable at 261 thousand tonnes in 2019, then surged by 36.5% to 356 thousand tonnes in 2020 and grew further to 386 thousand tonnes in 2021, driven by rising consumption.

In 2022, the market reached its peak of 399 thousand tonnes, supported by heightened summer demand due to high temperatures and by customs policies that facilitated inflows of competitively priced imported melons. However, domestic production fell that year, partly affected by tribal conflicts in some growing regions. The following year, market volume dropped sharply by 24.8% to 300 thousand tonnes, as local production collapsed to 82 thousand tonnes while imports held steady. During this period, new local food‑processing companies entered the market, potentially strengthening the marketing of domestic agricultural products. In 2024, imports remained at 218 thousand tonnes, and government and foreign investment plans aimed at boosting self‑sufficiency continued to shape the sector’s outlook.

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, K 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, K 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, K 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, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Iraq in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Iraq by countries, 2018-2024, K $ 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, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Iraq in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Iraq by countries, 2018-2024, K $ 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, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Iraq in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Iraq by countries, 2018-2024, K $ 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, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Iraq in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Iraq by countries, 2018-2024, K $ 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, K $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, K $ 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 melons in Iraq

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, Iraq ranked as the 22nd largest producer of melons globally.

Top producers of melons, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of melons, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Iraq's melon production grew for the third year in a row. In 2020, the country produced 200.8 thousand tonnes of melons, marking a 27.2% increase compared to the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, production surged by 111.4%, with an average annual growth rate of 28.3%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	42.4%	16.6%	27.2%	28.3%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports melons from Iraq

Market research indicates that Iraq did not export any melons between 2017 and 2020.

Imports melons to Iraq

Imports in kind, K t

The market showed an unstable trend during this period. Imports reached their lowest point in 2017 and peaked in 2020, with a 2.4-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Iraq imported 154.9 thousand tonnes of melons, up 50.6% from the prior year. The largest decline occurred in 2019, at 20.1%, while the biggest increase was in 2018, at 97.5%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	97.5%	(20.1%)	50.6%	33.5%

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, Iran accounted for 98.6% of Iraq's total melon imports by volume, making it the overwhelmingly dominant supplier.

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, K $ US

The market experienced volatility throughout the timeframe. Import values hit their lowest in 2017 and rose to a peak in 2018, showing a 2.4-fold change. In 2020, Iraq's melon imports were valued at 31 020 thousand US dollars, a sharp decline of 23.5% year-on-year. The highest value was recorded in 2018 at 53 176 thousand US dollars. The largest drop occurred in 2019, at 23.7%, while the biggest increase was in 2018, at 142.3%.

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