Rice sits on almost every Iraqi table, at lunch and often again at dinner. Iraq grows some of its own, including the famous amber rice, but nowhere near enough for the whole country. The gap is filled by imports, and the white rice wholesale Iraq trade runs on long grain rice that cooks fluffy and separate, holds up under a stew, and looks good piled high on a serving tray.
We’re De Thai Products 1989 Company Limited, a rice miller and exporter in Chachoengsao, Thailand. We mill and pack our own Thai long grain white rice and ship it worldwide, including to wholesalers and importers who supply Baghdad, Basra, Mosul, Erbil and the rest of the country. This page is our offer for white rice wholesale Iraq buyers: the grades, the specification, bags, shipping routes, documents, pricing and how we work.
Table of Contents
What We Offer for White Rice Wholesale Iraq Buyers
The main product is Thai long grain white rice, 5% broken, packed in 50kg or 25kg bags, shipped in 20ft containers to Umm Qasr or routed overland through a neighbouring port. We also supply 10% and 25% broken for price-led markets, 100% sortexed rice for premium packs, Thai jasmine and parboiled rice.
| Grade | Where it fits in Iraq |
|---|---|
| White rice 5% broken | Main wholesale grade, households and restaurants |
| White rice 100% sortexed | Premium branded packs |
| White rice 10% broken | Value wholesale and catering |
| White rice 25% broken | Budget bags, institutional buyers |
| Thai jasmine rice | Fragrant segment, higher margin |
| Parboiled rice 5% broken | Restaurants that cook in bulk and hold rice hot |
In white rice wholesale Iraq demand leans heavily toward long, whole grains. Customers judge rice by eye before they ever cook it, so a low broken grade usually sells better even when it costs a bit more.
Full Specification: Thai Long Grain White Rice 5% Broken
| Item | Standard |
|---|---|
| Origin | Thailand, current crop |
| Grain type | Long grain, well milled |
| Broken grains | 5% maximum |
| Moisture | 14% maximum |
| Purity | 95% minimum |
| Foreign matter | 0.1% maximum |
| Damaged grains | 1% maximum |
| Discoloured grains | 1% maximum |
| Chalky grains | 2% maximum |
| Milling degree | Double polished, colour sorted |
| Packing | 50kg or 25kg PP woven bags, 5kg and 10kg retail packs |
| Shelf life | Up to 24 months stored properly |
If your buyer or your tender wants tighter numbers on chalky or damaged grains, send us the spec and we’ll quote it. The grading method is explained on our rice standard page.
How Iraqi Cooks Use White Rice
This is worth a minute because it explains what sells. Iraqi rice is usually cooked so each grain stands apart, often with a little oil or ghee, sometimes with vermicelli, and served with marag, a meat or vegetable stew poured over the top. Big family meals and celebrations mean big pots and big trays. Timman bagilla, quzi, dolma fillings and biryani-style dishes all use rice in quantity.
So the rice needs to stay long after cooking, not split or go mushy, and it needs to absorb sauce without falling apart. Thai long grain does that well. That’s why it’s been part of white rice wholesale Iraq supply for so long, alongside American long grain and Indian rice.
Bags and Branding
- 50kg PP woven bags, the standard wholesale size
- 25kg PP or laminated bags, easier to handle in markets
- 5kg and 10kg printed retail bags
- Arabic and English printing, your brand and importer details
- Plain export bags with the required marking if you prefer
- Inner liners on request for long storage
Most white rice wholesale Iraq customers we work with sell under their own brand, and many of them use Arabic-only print for the local market. You send artwork, we prepare a proof, you sign it off, we print. We can also print Kurdish text for buyers in the Kurdistan Region.
Shipping Routes Into Iraq
There are a few ways to get rice into Iraq and the right one depends on where your warehouse is.
| Route | Notes |
|---|---|
| Laem Chabang to Umm Qasr | Main sea route for Basra and southern and central Iraq, often with transhipment in the Gulf |
| Laem Chabang to Aqaba, then by road | Sometimes used for western Iraq and Baghdad |
| Laem Chabang to Mersin, then by road | Common for Erbil, Duhok and the Kurdistan Region |
| Laem Chabang to Jebel Ali, then onward | Useful when direct sailings are tight |
Sea transit to Umm Qasr usually runs about three to five weeks including transhipment. Road legs add time and cost, so we always look at the full route with you before quoting CFR. A 20ft container holds about 25 tons: 500 bags of 50kg or 1,000 bags of 25kg. More detail on our 20ft container rice load page.
Iraqi Import Paperwork
Iraqi import rules change from time to time and they differ between federal Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, so always check the current rules with your clearing agent before you sign. The points that come up in nearly every white rice wholesale Iraq shipment are:
- Conformity requirements. Many goods entering Iraq need a certificate of conformity issued under the country’s pre-shipment verification programme, through approved inspection companies. Ask your agent whether your shipment needs one.
- Certificate of origin, sometimes with chamber of commerce stamps or legalisation
- Phytosanitary and fumigation certificates
- Health certificate stating the rice is fit for human consumption
- Halal certificate
- Correct Arabic labelling
We prepare everything on our side and work with inspection firms such as SGS for quality, weight and packing checks at loading. You or your agent handle the Iraqi side.
Documents We Provide
- Commercial invoice and packing list
- Bill of lading
- Certificate of origin
- Phytosanitary certificate
- Fumigation certificate
- Certificate of quality, weight and packing from an independent surveyor
- Health certificate and halal certificate
- Non-GMO declaration on request
- Support with conformity inspection where required
Minimum Order
One 20ft container. Regular white rice wholesale Iraq buyers take several containers a month, and larger importers book 20, 50 or more at a time. You can mix grades and bag sizes in one container. See our minimum order quantity page for the details.
Pricing
We don’t publish a fixed price. Rice prices move with paddy supply, currency, export policy in other origins and freight, and Gulf freight in particular can change quickly. What moves the price for white rice wholesale Iraq orders:
- Grade: 5% broken costs more than 25% broken
- Bag: printed 5kg packs cost more per ton than plain 50kg bags
- Delivery: FOB Thailand, CFR Umm Qasr, or a through price to an inland point
- Volume and how often you buy
You can follow Thai reference prices through the Thai Rice Exporters Association, and world rice trade on the FAO rice page. Delivery terms follow the ICC Incoterms rules. Our own explainers: Thai white rice 5% broken price per ton and FOB vs CIF rice price.
How an Order Works
- You send grade, tonnage, bag type, port or inland destination and terms.
- We send a dated offer and arrange samples.
- You cook and test the samples.
- We sign a contract with the full spec.
- Deposit or LC is arranged.
- We mill, bag, inspect and load.
- Documents go to you or your bank.
Plain bag orders usually load two to four weeks after contract.
Payment Terms
New buyers usually pay a deposit by bank transfer with the balance against copy documents, or use an irrevocable LC at sight from a recognised bank. Banking routes into Iraq can take extra steps, so let’s talk about the payment path at the start, not the end.
One warning that applies everywhere but especially in fast-moving markets: if any seller in white rice wholesale Iraq deals asks a first-time buyer for full payment up front with no inspection, don’t do it.
7 Proven Tips for White Rice Wholesale Iraq Buyers
1. Match the grade to how your customers judge rice
Iraqi shoppers look hard at the grain. Low brokens and a clean white colour sell themselves.
2. Cook the sample the way Iraqi families do
Cook it with a bit of oil, let it steam, and serve it with stew. If it stays long and separate, it’ll sell.
3. Agree the full route before the price
Umm Qasr, Aqaba or Mersin change the landed cost a lot. Price the whole route.
4. Check conformity paperwork early
If your shipment needs a certificate of conformity, get it organised before loading, not when the container arrives.
5. Get the Arabic print checked locally
Have someone in your market read the bag proof. A small mistake on the bag can hurt a brand for years.
6. Plan around Ramadan and Eid
Rice demand rises before Ramadan and Eid. Order early enough to land stock in time.
7. Start with one or two containers
Test the full chain once, from mill to your warehouse, then build up.
Mistakes We See
The biggest one is chasing the cheapest quote. In white rice wholesale Iraq trading, a price far below the market almost always means old crop, higher brokens than stated, short-weight bags or a seller who won’t ship at all. Another common one is forgetting summer heat. Containers sitting at a hot port in July and August need dry rice and good bags. And some buyers forget that a road leg from Aqaba or Mersin adds days and paperwork.
Thai Rice Compared With Other Origins in Iraq
Iraq buys rice from the United States, India, Thailand, Vietnam, Uruguay and others. American and Uruguayan long grain have a strong name in Iraq. Indian rice competes on price and covers basmati. Thai long grain sits in a good middle spot: long, white, consistent grain at a price that usually beats American rice, with a mature export system behind it. For many white rice wholesale Iraq traders, Thai rice is either the main line or the reliable second line next to another origin.
Our Quality Control
Every lot we ship for white rice wholesale Iraq orders is tested for moisture, brokens, chalky, damaged and discoloured grains and foreign matter before bagging. The rice goes through cleaning, de-stoning, polishing and colour sorting, and an independent surveyor checks quality and weight at loading. We keep retained samples from every shipment so we can test the same rice again if a question comes up later. More on our quality control page.
Storage in Iraqi Heat
Summer temperatures in Iraq are among the highest anywhere, and rice suffers in a hot, closed store.
- Keep bags on pallets, away from walls and off the floor
- Ventilate, and keep stores shaded where possible
- Keep rice away from anything with a strong smell
- First in, first out
- Fumigate regularly against insects
Stored properly, Thai white rice keeps well for up to two years. Stored badly in summer heat, it can go stale or get insects in a few months.
A Buyer Example
An importer supplying wholesale markets in central Iraq started with two containers of 5% broken in plain 50kg bags. The rice sold well, but his traders said customers wanted something smaller and branded. On the third order we switched half the load to 10kg Arabic-print bags with his own brand. Within a year he was taking six containers a month, mostly 50kg for the wholesale market and the rest in 10kg bags for grocers. That’s typical of how white rice wholesale Iraq businesses grow: the big bags carry the volume and the branded small bags build the name.
Planning a Steady Supply
If you sell every week, a monthly programme saves you money and stress. Set a volume, agree how often the price gets reviewed, and let us plan milling and bag printing around your schedule. Book Ramadan stock well ahead. For white rice wholesale Iraq buyers who order steadily, we can keep printed bags in stock at the mill so loading is faster.
How to Check a Supplier Before You Pay
Ask to see the mill, in person or on a live video call. Ask for company registration and export licence. Ask for references. Ask for a sample with a sealed retained sample kept at the mill. Insist on an independent surveyor at loading. Any genuine miller will be comfortable with all of it. In white rice wholesale Iraq deals, the sellers who resist these checks are the ones to avoid.
Who Buys in the White Rice Wholesale Iraq Market
The market splits into a few clear groups, and each one wants something different from a supplier.
- State buying. Iraq has long run a public food distribution system, and the state buys rice for it through tenders. Those buyers care about spec, paperwork, inspection and on-time delivery more than anything.
- Private importers and wholesalers. They feed the big wholesale markets in Baghdad, Basra and other cities, and sell on to traders and grocers. Price and bag print matter most here.
- Restaurants, hotels and caterers. They cook in volume and want rice that holds well in a hot pot for hours.
- Supermarkets and repackers. A growing share of rice now sells in branded 5kg and 10kg bags in modern shops.
We work with all of them. If you’re bidding on state tenders, our page on being a rice supplier for government buyers covers how we support bids. For private white rice wholesale Iraq buyers, the rest of this page is the main offer.
Regional Differences Inside Iraq
Iraq isn’t one market. Basra and the south are closest to Umm Qasr, so landed cost is lower and big 50kg bags dominate. Baghdad has the deepest wholesale market and the widest range of grades and brands. The Kurdistan Region often buys through Turkey, with different paperwork and a taste for slightly more premium packs. Western Iraq sometimes draws stock through Jordan.
If you’re planning white rice wholesale Iraq distribution beyond one city, it’s worth pricing two routes and comparing. We’ll quote both if you ask.
Samples and How to Test Them
For white rice wholesale Iraq enquiries we send 1kg to 2kg samples by courier, from the same lot we’d load. Spread some on a dark plate in daylight. Look at brokens, chalky bellies, yellow grains and any husk or stone. Smell it. Then cook it the way your customers will, with oil, and leave it covered for a while before serving. Good Thai long grain stays long, white and separate. We keep a sealed matching sample at the mill, and the contract refers to it.
What to Put in Your Contract
- Grade and full spec, including chalky and damaged grains
- Crop year
- Bag size, bag type, net weight tolerance and spare bags
- Print and marking details in Arabic and English
- Loading port, discharge port or inland point, and Incoterm
- Shipment period
- Inspection company and where inspection happens
- Required documents, listed one by one, including any conformity certificate
- Payment terms
- What happens if quality doesn’t match
A white rice wholesale Iraq contract that covers these points leaves very little room for argument later.
Retail Packs and Repacking
Some importers bring in 50kg bags and repack locally into 1kg, 2kg and 5kg packs. Others want us to pack small bags here. Both work. Local repacking saves freight per kilo. Packing at the mill gives you a cleaner, sealed product and less handling. If you’re planning to repack, tell us, and we’ll supply the rice slightly drier with spare bags. For a branded retail range, see what we already make on our brands page.
Why Buy Direct From a Mill
A lot of rice reaches Iraq through two or three layers of traders. Each one adds a margin, and each one is another place where the rice can be swapped, mixed or held too long in a hot store. Buying straight from the mill cuts that out. You know which plant milled your rice, you know the crop year, and you can talk to the people who actually load the container.
For white rice wholesale Iraq importers who move volume every month, that difference adds up. Fewer layers usually means a better price and far fewer surprises when the container is opened. It also means that when something does go wrong, and in rice something eventually does, there’s one company to call and it’s the one that can fix it.
We’re not saying traders have no place. Some do a good job. But if you’re building a brand on white rice wholesale Iraq demand, a direct line to the mill is worth a lot.
Seasons and Timing in Iraq
Rice buying in Iraq follows the calendar. Demand climbs before Ramadan and both Eids, and wedding season keeps restaurants and caterers busy. Summer heat makes storage harder, so many white rice wholesale Iraq importers prefer to land bigger stocks in spring and autumn. Tell us your season early and we’ll plan milling and bag printing around it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you ship white rice to Iraq?
Yes. We ship to Umm Qasr and through Aqaba or Mersin for inland and Kurdistan Region destinations.
Can you print our bags in Arabic?
Yes, Arabic, English, Kurdish or a mix.
What is the minimum order?
One 20ft container, about 25 tons.
Do you supply halal certificates?
Yes, on request.
Can you supply government or tender buyers?
Yes. See our page on being a rice supplier for government tenders.
Can I visit the mill?
Yes. We’re in Chachoengsao, close to Bangkok. Video tours are fine too.
Talk to Us About White Rice Wholesale Iraq Supply
Send the grade, tonnage, bag size and destination. We’ll come back with a dated offer and samples, usually the same day. You can also look at all our products and who we are, check our FAQ, or read white rice supplier Saudi Arabia and white rice 5% broken 50kg bag supplier for more on the region and the product.
De Thai Products 1989 Company Limited. Email info@dethairice.com, WhatsApp +66 81 034 6390, or use our contact page.
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