Jordan has exported more than 3,200 tonnes of fruit to Iraq since the border between the two countries reopened last month, the Jordan Times reported Tuesday (September 26th).
Fruits, mainly peaches, are currently the main agricultural produce exported to Iraq, with winter produce to be exported soon as the cold weather starts, according to the Ministry of Agriculture.
"A total of 113 refrigerated trucks carried 3,200 tonnes of fruits to the Iraqi market over the past week, as exporting to Iraq officially restarted," said Ministry of Agriculture spokesman Nimer Haddadin.
Jordan and Iraq reopened the Karameh-Trebil border crossing earlier this month after it had been closed since the summer of 2015 for security reasons.
Before the closure, around 100 trucks carrying 2,000 tonnes of produce crossed into Iraq each day, according to agriculture sector representatives.
The border closure resulted in a drop of fruit and vegetable exports by 70%.
Iraq mainly imports tomatoes, aubergines, cucumber, potatoes and citrus fruits from Jordan, among other crops, according to the Jordan Valley Farmers Union.
Haddadin said he expected the amount of exports to increase soon.
