When it rains in Baghdad in November, the roads jam. Last week a client's shipment left Mersin — scheduled to reach the warehouse in 12 days, it took 17. Rain on the Turkish leg, then a night in the border queue.
Iraq land freight is like this every season. Trucks come in from Turkey and Jordan; when the roads are bad, covering 200 km a day is a good day. Customs slows down too. Baghdad airport inspection is already backed up, and rainy days mean fewer inspection bays — an electronics parcel sitting 5 to 7 days is normal. What I see on the ground: November clearance runs 2–3 days longer than September.
So what do sellers do? My experience says two things. High-value SKUs that can fly (phone accessories, beauty) shouldn't wait for the truck — air costs $1–1.5/kg more, but those 5 days saved cover a peak-season turn. Bulky, low-value goods go by land, but quote 20 days, not 14.
COD is the other trap. Iraq is still 90%+ cash on delivery. Failed deliveries rise in the rain, and a returned parcel costs about $6 round trip to re-warehouse. Frankly, for November and December, take fewer orders rather than promise a date you can't hit.
Don't cut corners on documents. COC certificate, invoice value and HS code need to match the first time. Iraqi customs is strict on under-declaration now — one amendment costs three to five days. From what I hear, inspection rates in Baghdad and Basra are both climbing this month.
Erbil can be a backup. Clearance there is sometimes two or three days faster than Baghdad, but watch the double-duty problem — don't pay at both gates for the same container.
Your Iraq shipments this November — air, or another bet on the road?