Iraq imports between 50 and 75 kilograms of gold daily, excluding the Kurdistan Region, according to the Ministry of Planning. The ministry has clarified that gold imports are strictly regulated and can only occur through airports in Iraq.
Abdul Zahra al-Hindawi, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Planning, revealed that an estimated 50 to 70 kilograms of gold enter the country each day through major airports in Baghdad, Basra, Najaf, and Kirkuk. This figure does not include gold imports into the Kurdistan Region, but the ministry has expressed its willingness to coordinate with regional authorities to streamline the process and obtain more precise data.
In addition to the central airports, gold is also imported through Erbil and Sulaimani airports in the Kurdistan Region, both of which have established centers to inspect gold and other precious jewels.
As per government regulations, all gold imports are required to pass through these designated airports. Notably, a gold inspection center was opened at Kirkuk airport in late December, further facilitating the authorized importation of gold into Iraq.
Sheikh Mustafa Abdulrahman, President of the Kurdistan Region’s Importers and Exporters Union, commented in December 2023 that the Kurdistan Region has emerged as a major hub for gold trade in the wider region, highlighting its growing significance in the gold market.
