Iraq customs in 2026: ASYCUDA, item-by-item duties and electronic verification. The checklist for glass importers

Iraqi customs has changed deeply in 2026. Since January, duties at Umm Qasr are calculated item by item according to the HS code (Council of Ministers Decision 957/2025). Paper declarations are no longer accepted at the main ports, and since 10 July 2026 certificates of origin and commercial invoices must be verified electronically through ASYCUDA. One inconsistent line can now suspend your declaration.

What changed in 2026

• Duties per item: no more fixed fee per container. Each item is assessed by HS code, from 5 % depending on the category, and customs may value it from your invoice or from the official tariff.
• ASYCUDA everywhere: declarations are electronic, and paper is refused at major ports such as Umm Qasr.
• Electronic verification: invoices and certificates of origin must be registered with the Federation of Iraqi Chambers of Commerce. Unverified documents can lead to an automatic suspension of the declaration.

Why it matters for glass

In a mixed container, float, laminated glass, mirrors and Low-E can fall under different HS codes, so under different duty lines. If the invoice groups everything as glass in one line, customs may set the value itself: you pay more, or you wait.

What we provide

• Line-by-line invoice: each reference with its HS code, thickness, m², weight, unit value and Incoterm.
• Certificate of origin: issued and legalised when your agent asks for it.
• Matching packing list: crate by crate, with the same descriptions as the invoice.
• Documents sent early: so you have time to register them before the container arrives.

Umm Qasr and the Hormuz crisis

Umm Qasr lies at the far end of the Gulf, so containers must cross the Strait of Hormuz, which is disrupted and subject to war-risk surcharges. On request, we can also study routes that avoid the strait, through Aqaba in Jordan or Mersin in Turkey, followed by road transport to Iraq.

Procedures change often: always check the latest instructions of the General Customs Authority with your clearing agent.

Sources: Iraq Business News · Deloitte