Large buyer of Ukrainian chicken has banned imports from today

Iraq has banned the import of poultry products from today, January 15, 2026.

The move is intended to give local poultry farmers an additional boost for development, writes Poultry World.

The number of registered poultry farms in Iraq has reached 1,200. At the same time, this figure does not include Kurdistan, where significant poultry production capacities are also concentrated. The Iraqi government believes that thanks to this well-developed production base, it is possible to significantly increase national self-sufficiency in poultry production.

The Iraqi Ministry of Agriculture called the ban on chicken carcasses and their parts “one of the most effective tools to support poultry farmers.”

At the same time, the ban on poultry imports has raised concerns about food price inflation, especially during Ramadan, when protein consumption increases.

Market experts have urged the authorities to consider more systemic solutions, such as providing direct support to poultry farmers to reduce the price gap between domestic and imported chicken. In addition, observers have urged the authorities to ensure a stable supply of feed additives and vaccines necessary for poultry farmers to continue their activities.

According to the Observatory of Economic Complexity, Iraq is the world’s 9th largest importer of poultry meat, with imports of $808 million in 2024. Iraq imports poultry from Brazil, Turkey and the United States.

According to the Union of Poultry Farmers of Ukraine, the share of Ukrainian chicken supplies to Iraq in 2024 amounted to almost 8% of the 446.6 thousand tons of total exports. Iraq is among the top 4 buyers of this type of meat in Ukraine.

Tags: chicken, Iraq, restrictions, Ukraine