The Iraq port expansion project at Umm Qasr in Basra province is entering a new phase, promising to reshape Iraq’s role in regional and global trade. Authorities plan to raise container handling capacity from one million to four million containers annually, reinforcing the country’s logistics infrastructure.
The expansion follows a national strategy by Iraq’s General Company for Ports to position Umm Qasr as a central hub in regional supply chains. Major upgrades are underway, including new berths, larger storage areas, and digital customs systems that streamline operations and reduce cargo clearance delays.
Two international firms are playing major roles in the Iraq port expansion project. UAE-based Gulftainer is managing several berths and container yards. The company’s digital platform helps coordinate logistics before ships arrive, cutting waiting times and boosting output. Gulftainer’s facility spans 450,000 square meters and includes refrigerated warehouses, continuous customs operations, and improved security systems.
Ibrahim Sarhan, Gulftainer’s regional director, said the average customs clearance time has dropped to under 48 hours, a significant step forward for oil and gas shipments.
At the same time, China’s Lurin Investment is leading the development of Berths 22 through 24. These are being built using gravity wall construction, which resists seismic activity. Lurin is also working on adjacent storage yards covering 384,100 square meters. According to Chief Engineer Naim Aboud, this part of the project is halfway complete.
Other milestones include the near-completion of Berths 12 to 15, which are 97% finished. The BTM container yard is already operational, covering 400,000 square meters and handling up to 850,000 containers yearly. Berth 11, managed by Gulftainer, is also active with a 307,000-square-meter yard processing 636,000 containers annually.
Lurin’s expansion of new berths will add another 850,000 containers to the port’s yearly throughput, bringing upgraded zone capacity to 1.2 million containers. These new areas will also handle various cargo types, including refrigerated and empty containers.
However, long-standing challenges still affect port efficiency. Transport expert Basel Al-Khafaji warned that Iraq hasn’t deepened Umm Qasr’s docking zones in over four decades. This limits ship size to 25,000 tons, preventing the arrival of larger cargo vessels. Deepening the port to 20–25 meters remains a critical priority.
With these developments, the Iraq port expansion project is not only modernizing infrastructure but also building investor confidence in Iraq’s trade potential. Continued improvements in port depth and services will be key to unlocking long-term economic benefits.