Car imports to Iraqi Kurdistan reach over 170,000 in 2024: ministry

Car imports increase in Iraqi Kurdistan in 2024 amid environmental concerns

ERBIL,— Traders in Iraq’s Kurdistan region imported more than 170,000 vehicles in 2024, according to the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) Ministry of Trade. This marks a significant increase from the previous year, raising concerns about environmental impact and air quality in the region.

Nawzad Sheikh Kamil, a senior official from the KRG’s Ministry of Trade, told Rudaw TV on Sunday that a total of 171,954 vehicles were brought into the region in 2024. The number, he said, represents an increase of over 50,000 vehicles compared to 2023.

The vehicles, which are mostly imported through border crossings from Turkey and Iran, are often transported to areas in Iraq’s central and southern provinces, Kamil added. The increase in vehicle imports has sparked concern, as many of the vehicles contribute to the growing issue of air pollution in the region.

The influx of cars comes amid an ongoing struggle with rising air pollution, largely blamed on emissions from older vehicles. Many of the cars imported are secondhand, and a number of them run on low-quality fuel that contains high levels of sulfur, further exacerbating the environmental concerns.

A Mercedes G Class car, Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan, 2024. Photo: Creative Commons/Esmihel Muhammed/pexels

According to Kamil, the Kurdistan region’s border crossings have seen a steady flow of imported vehicles, with a noticeable number being redirected to other parts of Iraq. While the imports boost trade in the region, they also contribute to the growing problem of toxic air emissions.

In 2019, the KRG’s Ministry of the Interior had introduced regulations to address these environmental challenges. The ministry suspended the importation of vehicles manufactured before 2018 and set a requirement that all imported used cars must have a Certificate of Conformity (COC).

This measure aimed to ensure that only vehicles meeting environmental and safety standards were allowed into the region. Despite this, the flow of older, less eco-friendly vehicles continues, raising questions about the effectiveness of these policies in curbing pollution.

The KRG’s Ministry of Trade, which issued 924 vehicle import licenses in 2024, has acknowledged the rising demand for vehicles in the region. However, the growing number of imported vehicles is placing a strain on efforts to combat pollution, officials said.

(With files from Rudaw)