Trade between Iraq and Jordan showed a notable change during the first months of 2026, with Jordanian imports from Iraq recording a significant decline. New figures released by Jordan’s Department of Statistics revealed that imports dropped dramatically compared with the same period last year. Meanwhile, Jordan’s exports to Iraq remained largely stable, highlighting an imbalance in bilateral trade despite ongoing commercial ties.
According to official data, Jordan imported goods worth 32 million Jordanian dinars (about $46 million) from Iraq between January and May 2026. During the same period in 2025, imports reached 81 million dinars, or approximately $114 million. This represented a decline of more than 60%, making it one of the sharpest year-on-year drops in recent trade statistics.
While imports declined, Jordanian exports to Iraq continued to hold steady. Export values reached 381 million Jordanian dinars, or roughly $544 million, during the first five months of 2026. In comparison, exports totaled 377 million dinars, around $532 million, during the same period in 2025. The increase of 1.1% reflected stable demand for Jordanian products in the Iraqi market.
The contrasting performance between imports and exports suggests that trade flows changed significantly during the opening months of the year. Although Jordan continued selling goods to Iraq at nearly the same pace, purchases from Iraq slowed considerably. Economists often view such trends as indicators of changing market demand, supply conditions, or broader economic developments.
Earlier economic reports had already pointed to weaker commercial activity between the two neighboring countries. Last month, Manar Al-Obaidi, head of the Future Iraq Foundation for Economic Studies and Consultations, reported that total trade between Iraq and Jordan declined during the first quarter of 2026. His assessment showed bilateral trade falling to $479 million from $684 million during the same period a year earlier. That represented a decline of nearly 30%.
The latest import figures reinforce those earlier findings. They also suggest that the slowdown extended beyond a single quarter and continued into the following months. Analysts may now monitor future reports to determine whether this trend reflects temporary market conditions or a longer-term shift in regional trade.
Iraq and Jordan maintain important economic relations through trade, transportation, and cross-border business cooperation. Both countries continue working to strengthen commercial partnerships and improve investment opportunities. Even so, annual trade performance often changes because of market prices, consumer demand, logistics, and regional economic conditions.
Currency values also play a role in measuring trade performance. The Jordanian dinar currently trades at around 0.70 per US dollar, meaning one Jordanian dinar equals approximately $1.41. Exchange rates can influence import costs, export competitiveness, and the overall value of cross-border commerce.
Looking ahead, businesses and policymakers will likely watch upcoming trade data closely. Any recovery in Jordanian imports from Iraq could signal stronger commercial activity during the second half of 2026. Until then, the latest figures underline a clear shift in bilateral trade while Jordanian imports from Iraq remain well below last year’s levels.