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Iraq buys 88,000 tonnes of US rice in first deal since November
The purchase, from ADM Rice, is set for loading in September and November, supporting US rice market activity as the 2026 harvest begins.
Iraq has made additional purchases of US long grain milled rice, with Al Awees buying 88,000 tonnes from ADM Rice for loading in September and November, marking the first US sale since last November, according to USA Rice as covered by World Grain.
USA Rice said the deal provides a boost to the US rice market as industry prepares for the 2026 harvest season, noting that earlier planned Al Awees shipments in January and March were delayed by logistics disruptions linked to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
The sales were conducted on the sidelines of a bilateral meeting between US President Donald Trump and Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, with USA Rice adding that Iraq’s limited domestic rice production makes it reliant on imports to meet consumer demand.
USA Rice also said the agreement with Al Awees, established in 2021, has supported a consistent framework for at least 200,000 tonnes of US rice purchases and is intended to back Iraq’s food security needs, while it continues working to address a yearslong financing challenge tied to exchange rate and transaction fees.