Maersk Line Establish Iraq Presence

Maersk Line opens new branch in the port of Umm Qasr, in the Basrah region of Iraq

Until very recently Iraq was seen as being too dangerous for Maersk Line to risk opening an office. Thankfully conditions are changing, and Maersk Line is determined to do its bit to both capture business for itself and facilitate growth in the local economy.

    •    Maersk Line in Iraq has a dedicated feeder, 80% reliability, fixed berthing, and unmatched (expandable) reefer capacity
    •    Maersk Line aims to ride the economic growth in Iraq and promote our competitive products and services

Positioning itself in a high growth market, Maersk Line opened a branch office in Iraq in January 2012. This strengthened its sales presence in a region where the value of goods and services produced is expected to grow by 8.6% this year. Maersk Line is currently the fifth biggest player in Iraq, having doubled its market share this year to between 10% and 12%.

Maersk Line’s new branch is in the port of Umm Qasr, in the Basrah region of Iraq. The port is central to trade in Iraq, with containers arriving from all over the world. Iraq is still not an easy place to do business, and there are still the inherent risks of working in a new and delicate democracy. Ayad Sultan, the first external sales representative, admits this risk is the main challenge of working in Iraq in general and that Umm Qasr is “no exception.”

Setting up an office in Umm Qasr will provide a dedicated team on the ground so customers in and out of Iraq will feel more secure in knowing they have a business partner they can highly depend on.

Providing back office support, third-party agent Inchcape Shipping Services in Umm Qasr will handle documentation and cash services to Maersk Line customers.