U.S. Rice Industry Celebrates Major Iraqi Purchase

By Sarah Moran

USA Rice

BAGHDAD, IRAQ – After several weeks of uncertainty surrounding Iraq’s 2026 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) rice purchases due to the delay in approving the FY26 Iraqi budget, ADM Rice has confirmed the recent purchase of two vessels of U.S. long-grain rice totaling 88,000 metric tons. These shipments, scheduled for January and March 2026, mark a positive development for U.S. rice exports and help move the newly harvested crop.

The announcement follows a letter sent two weeks ago by U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) to Chargé d’affaires Joshua Harris in Iraq, commending his team’s efforts to maintain Iraq as a stable market for American farmers and urging support for fulfilling Iraq’s 2026 MOU commitments.

“These two sales are much celebrated news for the U.S. rice industry,” said USA Rice Chair Keith Glover. “Iraq is one of the top destinations for U.S. long grain, milled rice and the U.S.–Iraq rice trade remains a crucial component of Iraq’s food import strategy and a valuable market for American rice producers.”

Given Iraq’s limited domestic rice production and preference for high-quality imports, the long-standing USA Rice–Al Awees MOU, in place since 2021, continues to play a vital role in sustaining a strong and mutually beneficial U.S.–Iraq rice trade relationship.