A Specialized Analysis of Iran's Poultry Products Export with a Focus on the Iraqi Market and a Comparison with Turkey

 1. The Position of the Poultry Industry in Iran

Iran's poultry industry, with an annual production of over 2.5 million tons of chicken meat, 1.4 million tons of eggs, and approximately 140 million one-day-old chicks per month, is one of the largest agricultural industries in the country. The industry's turnover is estimated to exceed 280 trillion tomans, providing direct and indirect employment for more than one million people.

 2. Export Trends and Challenges

According to reports, the poultry industry exports have experienced a decline of over 60% in recent years, with items such as frozen chicken, one-day-old chicks, eggs, and poultry feed seeing the largest decreases. The main reasons for this decline are as follows:

• Increase in Iraq's domestic production and the country's food self-sufficiency

• Government interventions in price-setting (such as mandated pricing of chicks and poultry) have eliminated the profitability of exports.

• Foreign exchange and customs issues, including lack of access to the international banking system.

• Lack of long-term export contracts and incoherence in the export supply chain.

3. Iraq's role in Iran's export market

Until 2019, Iraq was the most important export destination for Iran's poultry; geographical proximity, low transportation costs, and food dependency had given Iran the largest share. However:

• The Iraqi government has increased the production of chicks, eggs, and poultry by investing in the domestic industry and providing subsidies.
• Imports from Iran have decreased, while imports from Turkey have increased.

 4. Turkey; a strong regional competitor

With government support, export-oriented production, modern logistical infrastructure, and full access to the international banking system, Turkey has succeeded in capturing markets that were previously held by Iran. The country exports over 400,000 tons of eggs annually, along with large volumes of poultry and chicks, to Iraq, Syria, and the CIS.

Turkey’s advantages include:

• Stability of exchange rates and export prices
• Complete cold chain for transporting chicks and poultry
• Access to the global banking system and LC
• Stronger branding in the Iraqi market

 5. Economic analysis of Iran's advantages compared to Turkey

 6. Proposed solutions for revitalizing Iran’s exports

1. Liberalizing export product prices to increase economic attractiveness.
2. Developing logistical infrastructure, especially the cold chain at the western borders.
3. Facilitating customs and banking processes, including through regional agreements or common currencies.
4. Signing long-term export contracts with Iraqi buyers.
5. Establishing a national export brand for strategic products such as eggs and fertile chicks.
6. More active trade diplomacy to stabilize market share and reduce preferential tariffs with Iraq and Syria.

Final summary

The decline of Iran’s share in Iraq’s poultry export market is the result of internal factors (weak export infrastructure, price suppression, logistical weaknesses) and external factors (increased competition from Turkey, Iraq’s self-sufficiency). Although Iran’s production capacity is very high, without reforming macro policies and strengthening trade instruments, this capacity will remain underutilized. Only through a structural, economic, and regional approach can Iran’s export position be revitalized.