Market research

Watermelons market in Iraq

Release date: Mar 28, 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 2021, the watermelon market in Iraq showed considerable volatility. The total market volume dipped to 669 thousand tonnes in 2019 from 740 thousand tonnes the previous year, then recovered to 739 thousand tonnes in 2020 before jumping to 851 thousand tonnes in 2021. This increase was accompanied by rising imports, which reached 473 thousand tonnes in 2021, and growing local production.

In 2022, the market expanded further to a peak of 911 thousand tonnes. This growth was driven by a government decision to halt imports of watermelons, eggplants, and trees until the local production season ended. By restricting foreign competition, this policy encouraged domestic growers to boost output, with production rising to 440 thousand tonnes. Consumer preference for high-quality local varieties, such as the sweet Samarra watermelon, also supported demand for domestic produce.

The market contracted sharply in 2023, falling to 657 thousand tonnes. Local production dropped significantly to 193 thousand tonnes, while imports remained elevated at 465 thousand tonnes, indicating challenges in the domestic agricultural sector.

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 watermelons in Iraq

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of watermelons, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of watermelons, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Iraq's watermelon production has grown for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the country produced 420.5 thousand tons of watermelons, marking a 24.4% increase from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, production more than doubled, rising by 101.3%, which translates to an average annual growth rate of 26.3%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	39.4%	16.0%	24.4%	26.3%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports watermelons from Iraq

Exports in kind, K t

Iraq exported 0.0 thousand tons of watermelons in 2018, 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

From 2017 to 2020, Iraq's watermelon exports were almost entirely focused on Saudi Arabia, which accounted for 99.8% 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

In 2018, Iraq's watermelon exports were valued at 0.0 million US dollars, representing an extraordinary increase of 71,282.9% from the previous year.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, Saudi Arabia was the nearly exclusive buyer of Iraqi watermelons, purchasing 99.9% of the 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 to Iraq

Imports in kind, K t

Iraq's watermelon imports have declined for the third year in a row. In 2020, imports totaled 318.8 thousand tons, showing a moderate decrease of 3.6% from the prior year. From 2017 to 2020, imports fell by 39.2%, with an average annual decline of 15.3%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(14.5%)	(26.3%)	(3.6%)	(15.3%)

Source: SHEV.io

During the 2017–2020 period, Iran effectively dominated Iraq's watermelon imports by volume, capturing 99.4% 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 watermelon imports have dropped for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the country imported 68.1 million US dollars worth of watermelons, a sharp contraction of 26.5% compared to the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports decreased by 32.5%, with a compound annual growth rate of -12.3%.

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