Market research

Watermelons and 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

In 2018, the market for watermelons and melons in Iraq reached 1 004 thousand tons, largely sustained by high imports of 577 thousand tons. This influx was facilitated by the uncontrolled entry of Iranian watermelons, which competed directly with local produce and contributed to the overall market volume. The following year, the market contracted to 929 thousand tons as imports fell to 433 thousand tons, even though domestic production rose to 496 thousand tons.

The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 led to border closures with Iran and Turkey, which provided Iraqi farmers a window to increase domestic marketing. This helped boost local production to 621 thousand tons, supporting a market recovery to 1 095 thousand tons. Market growth continued, peaking at 1 310 thousand tons in 2022. That year, the Iraqi Ministerial Economic Council decided to suspend imports of watermelons and eggplants until the end of the local harvest season, a policy measure aimed at protecting domestic producers from unregulated foreign competition. However, in 2023, the market volume fell sharply to 958 thousand tons due to a severe drop in domestic production to 275 thousand tons, while imports remained high at 683 thousand tons.

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, 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 watermelons and melons in Iraq

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of watermelons and melons, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of watermelons and melons, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Iraq's production of watermelons and melons has grown for the third year in a row. In 2020, the country produced 621.3 K t, marking a 25.3% increase from the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, production more than doubled, rising by 104.4% with an average annual growth rate of 26.9%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	40.3%	16.2%	25.3%	26.9%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports watermelons and melons from Iraq

Exports in kind, K t

In 2018, Iraq's exports of watermelons and melons reached 0.0 K t, representing a dramatic surge of 47 343.9% compared to 2017.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	47 343.9%	n/a	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, Saudi Arabia accounted for nearly all of Iraq's watermelon and melon exports in volume, holding a 99.8% share of the total.

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

In 2018, the value of Iraq's watermelon and melon exports totaled 0.0 M $ US, showing a sharp rise of 71 282.9% from the year before.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	71 282.9%	n/a	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Saudi Arabia was the primary buyer of watermelons and melons from Iraq, making up 99.9% of total export value.

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 watermelons and melons to Iraq

Imports in kind, K t

Following two years of decline, Iraq's imports of watermelons and melons rebounded in 2020. The country imported 473.7 K t, up 9.3% from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports fell by 19.7%, with an average annual decrease of 7.0%. The lowest volume was in 2019 at 433.4 K t, which saw the steepest drop of 24.9%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(2.1%)	(24.9%)	9.3%	(7.0%)

Source: SHEV.io

During 2017-2020, Iran was the dominant source for Iraq's watermelon and melon imports by volume, supplying 99.2% of the total.

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 import value for watermelons and melons declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, imports stood at 99.1 M $ US, down 25.6% from 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased by 19.3%, averaging a 6.9% annual decline. The peak was in 2018 at 148.0 M $ US, which also recorded the largest increase of 20.5%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	20.5%	(10.0%)	(25.6%)	(6.9%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Iran overwhelmingly shaped the value-based import structure for watermelons and melons into Iraq, contributing 99.0% of total flows.

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