By the Numbers: Ministry of Trade Launches Urgent Plan to Reduce Freight Costs and Secure Markets

The Iraqi Ministry of Trade has moved rapidly to counter the crisis of rising import costs, announcing an urgent operational plan aimed at facilitating the entry of goods through borders and reducing waiting times. The new measures target cutting customs clearance time by over 30%, which will immediately reflect in lower overland and maritime shipping and transportation fees. The Ministry's spokesperson affirmed that these steps are a swift response to protect food security, stressing that regulatory teams have initiated intensive campaigns to control prices in major markets. The language of numbers confirms that any delay at the ports adds 5% to 10% to the final value of a commodity; therefore, accelerating procedures will mean saving billions of dinars for the Iraqi consumer monthly and ensuring the continuous, uninterrupted flow of food supply chains, thereby mitigating the impact of price inflation.