Flour-based confectionery and bakery products are an integral part of Iraqi cuisine and are regularly consumed by local residents regardless of their region of residence, income level, or age. The production of these products in Iraq largely depends on imports of wheat flour. This is because a significant part of the flour produced domestically is used for animal feed due to its low quality. Most flour products in Iraq are sold unpackaged through various markets, bazaars, and small local bakeries, which mainly use imported flour. In addition, a significant amount of bakery products are also produced in households.
At the same time, in recent years, some confectionery products have increasingly been made from barley flour, which has contributed to an increase in the range of products available on the market. Iraq is a net importer of wheat and wheat-rye flour: in 2023, the country imported 1.4 million tons of these products worth US$597.8 million. In addition, the country purchases large volumes of flour confectionery and bakery products, as it does not fully cover domestic demand: in 2023, imports of these products amounted to 349,800 tons worth US$709.5 million.
Between 2019 and 2024, the consumption of bread and flour confectionery products in Iraq increased by 13.0%, reaching a historic high of 3.4 million tons. In 2024, bread accounted for about 93.3% of bakery product consumption, amounting to 3.2 million tons, while flour confectionery products accounted for 6.7%, or 225,100 tons. The main factor driving demand for these products is the country's growing population: between 2019 and 2024, the population grew by 13.5% to 44.4 million people. The popularity of bakery products in Iraq is also growing thanks to the opening of modern bakeries that sell both traditional products (such as baklava and kleicha) and Western confectionery (éclairs, croissants, etc.).
In terms of value, sales of bread and flour confectionery products in Iraq in 2024 amounted to US$3.4 billion, which is 6.1% more than in 2023. In 2024, bread accounted for about 72.1% of bakery product sales, amounting to US$2.4 billion, while flour confectionery products accounted for 27.9%, or US$937.6 million.
Iraq is among the top 20 global leaders in per capita bread consumption. In 2024, per capita bread consumption in Iraq was 71.1 kg per year, which is 1.1% higher than the previous year, but 1.0% lower than the record level of 2019. In the Middle East, only Turkey (about 100 kg per year) and Saudi Arabia (130 kg per year) have higher consumption levels.
Per capita consumption of flour confectionery products in Iraq is relatively low (compared to other countries in the Middle East region, e.g., in the UAE – about 10 kg per year, and Saudi Arabia – 16 kg per year), but has been steadily increasing in recent years (growing by an average of 3.3% since 2020), which is explained by population growth. Between 2019 and 2024, the indicator grew by 4.3% to a record level of 5.1 kg per person per year. In 2020, due to the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a decline in per capita consumption in the country, but in 2021, the indicator returned to growth. It is expected that in 2024-2029, the average annual growth rate of per capita consumption of flour confectionery products in Iraq will be 3.9%, with the indicator reaching 6.1 kg per person per year by 2029.
Baked products traditionally account for the largest share of flour confectionery consumption in Iraq. In 2024, consumption of these products in the country amounted to 65.6 thousand tons (29.1% of total sales of all bakery products). Cakes ranked second in popularity and accounted for 18.7% of consumption (42.2 thousand tons). Shortbread cookies are also in demand in the country: in 2024, 39.3 thousand tons of these products were sold in Iraq (17.5% of the total volume). Also, 13.6% (30.6 thousand tons) and 12.9% (29.0 thousand tons) of the total consumption of flour confectionery products in 2024 fell on filled cookies and wafers, respectively. The least popular flour confectionery products in 2024 were chocolate-coated cookies (4.0% or 9,000 tons), unsweetened bakery products (2.0% or 4,600 tons), sweet cookies (1.3% or 3.0 thousand tons), and other products (0.8% or 1.7 thousand tons).
Baked products occupy the top spot in the structure of flour confectionery sales in Iraq, accounting for 26.3% (US$246.6 million) of the total value of products sold in 2024. Between 2019 and 2024, the volume of baked goods sales in the country increased by 31.4% (+$59.0 million). The second most popular type of flour confectionery in Iraq is cakes, with a 21.3% share ($199.6 million) in the overall sales structure at the end of 2024. In addition, 17.3%, 11.1% and 10.2% of total sales of flour confectionery products in Iraq in 2024 were accounted for by filled cookies (US$162.6 million), wafers (US$104.3 million) and shortbread cookies (US$95.2 million), respectively. The least popular flour confectionery products in 2024 were chocolate-coated cookies (6.1% or $57.2 million), savory baked goods (5.1% or $47.9 million), sweet biscuits (1.6% or US$15.1 million) and other products (1.0% or US$9.1 million).
In 2023, Iraq's imports of flour confectionery and bakery products amounted to 349.7 thousand tons worth US$709.3 million, which is 0.4% higher than in 2022 in volume terms (1.5 thousand tons) and 9.5% higher in value terms (USD 61.6 million).
Overall, between 2019 and 2023, Iraq's purchases of flour products increased by 8.6% in volume terms and 29.3% in value.
The bulk of Iraq's imports of flour confectionery and bakery products consists of other bakery and flour confectionery products, which in 2023 accounted for 41.6% of purchases in volume terms (145.6 thousand tons) and 40.5% in value terms (US$287.4 million) . Significant volumes of imports at the end of the year also fell on sweet dry biscuits (36.2% and 29.6%, respectively) and wafers and wafer sheets (21.9% and 29.6%). Imports of rusks, croutons, and similar roasted products accounted for 0.2% in volume terms and 0.3% in value in the structure of purchases for the entire product group. Purchases of crispbread and gingerbread accounted for less than 0.1% of Iraq's imports of flour confectionery and bakery products, both in volume terms and in value terms.
Turkey is the main supplier of bakery products to Iraq, accounting for 48.4% of imports in volume terms (169,200 tons) in 2023. Iran ranks second in terms of exports of these products to the country, with a 40.0% share in the overall structure at the end of the year (139.9 thousand tons). Malaysia rounds out the top three suppliers, accounting for 1.4% of all supplies in 2023 (5.0 thousand tons).
In 2023, Iraq significantly increased its purchases of flour products from Malaysia – 2.6 times compared to 2023 (+3.1 thousand tons), Poland – by 85.3% (+1.3 thousand tons), and Jordan – by 77.1% (+1.9 thousand tons). At the same time, the country's imports of these products from Saudi Arabia (-50.4% or -5.1 thousand tons) and the UAE (-31.7% or -1.8 thousand tons) decreased significantly.
The main exporter of flour confectionery and bakery products to Iraq in terms of value is Turkey, which supplied products worth US$436.7 million (61.6% of Iraq's imports) in 2023. The top three largest exporters to the country's market at the end of the year also included Iran (16.2% or $114.9 million) and Saudi Arabia (2.9% or $20.7 million).
In 2023, Iraq increased its purchases of flour confectionery and bakery products from Italy (3.8 times or by US$8.2 million), Malaysia (2.4 times or by $6.5 million), Poland (2.2 times or by $10.9 million), and Jordan (2.1 times or by $9.6 million). At the same time, imports of these products from the UAE decreased (-7.0% or -$1.3 million).
In 2023, the average import price of flour confectionery and bakery products to Iraq increased by 9.0% to $2,028 per ton. The most expensive products were supplied from Italy at a price 4.2 times higher than the average, Poland (3.6 times higher than the average), Egypt (2.3 times higher), the UAE (2.2 times higher), Saudi Arabia (2 times higher), Jordan (2 times higher), and Lebanon (98.3% higher). In 2023, Iraq imported the cheapest products from Iran (59.5% below the average price) and Ukraine (12.0% below).
The most expensive type of flour confectionery and bakery products imported into Iraq are crispbread – in 2023, the price of a ton of this product increased 2.6 times to $4,898. The lowest prices were traditionally recorded for sweet dry biscuits – $1,658 per ton.
