Iraq

Sales of home care continued to flourish in 2021 due to the ongoing threat from COVID-19. However, the higher cost of importing and logistics pushed brands to raise their prices putting a cap on demand for home care. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a…

Soft drinks sales saw a strong recovery in 2021 despite the country continuing to be affected by COVID-19. Improvements in the non-oil economy, supported by the easing of COVID-19 restrictions provided a big boost. Nonetheless, the main brands…

Currency depreciation during 2022 lead to price hikes that shocked the market, interrupting the flow of imports and harming the operations of local manufacturers. Consumers now have more limited choices as purchasing power is falling. However, demand…

Alcoholic drinks in Iraq faces major challenges, not least the presence of a huge and largely unchecked black market in counterfeit brands. Rampant corruption and lack of political will continue to support this trade in illicit products, with the…

Tobacco continued to register positive volume growth in 2020 and 2021 as rising prices pushed many consumers towards cheaper cigarette brands. In smoking tobacco, local production is rising as players seek to avoid high import taxes. In cigarettes,…

Iraq’s retailing industry faced stiff challenges in 2020 and 2021 as the COVID-19 pandemic discouraged consumers from shopping in crowded stores. With incomes under pressure, many were also reluctant to spend money unless strictly necessary and this…

Soft drinks sales saw a strong recovery in 2021 despite the country continuing to be affected by COVID-19. Improvements in the non-oil economy, supported by the easing of COVID-19 restrictions provided a big boost. Nonetheless, the main brands…

Bread is the dominant staple food in Iraq, but retail volume sales of baked goods fell sharply during 2020 due to supply-chain disruption arising from COVID-19, in addition to the economic shock that it engendered. However, they rebounded strongly…

Strong growth was recorded in tissue and hygiene in 2020 and 2021 despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the lingering effects of armed conflict. One exception was the AFH channel, with dramatic declines seen in 2020 as the strict approach…

Beauty and personal care faces major challenges, not least the prevalence of counterfeit brands, resulting in very low levels of consumer trust. There is no coordinated nationwide distribution and most sales are generated by small players that focus…

Cooking ingredients and meals in 2021: The big picture

Consumer health in 2021: The big picture

Political instability, weak security, and corruption blight Iraq’s society and business landscape. A disproportionate reliance on the oil sector distorts the country’s external sector and economy. Nevertheless, the recovering oil price is expected to…

Iraq remains a volatile market with ongoing concerns about a resurgence in violence. The outbreak of COVID-19 placed further pressure on the country, while its significant dependence on oil remains an issue due to fluctuations in the price of oil.…

The number of households is set to increase rapidly in Iraq over 2021-2040, with couples with children remaining the dominant household type. While household earnings will not recover from the COVID-19 impact by 2040, the fastest household…

Economies that offer an efficient, fast and inexpensive path to starting a business enjoy great dynamism and high FDI intake. A country with a competitive business environment is offering sound transport and ICT infrastructure; an effective juridical…

The report provides information on the economic landscape, major monetary indicators, foreign trade, investments and government finance in Iraq. In 2021, the country’s economy expanded in real terms, driven by increasing domestic consumption, public…

Insight into income, wealth and expenditure of consumers and households is vital in helping businesses make strategic decisions with regards to which country (or even which region within a country) to enter, which consumer segment to target, which…

The landscape in which businesses operate has an impact on the supply chain and regulatory matters while offering scope for innovation and new ways of doing business. Insights on key sectors directly related to the environmental sustainability of a…