Time
Live Business City Clocks
Business Hours Overlap
India: Mon–Sat 9:30 AM–6:30 PM IST | Iraq: Monday–Friday (Friday is shorter/holy day; Thursday–Friday is semi-weekend in some sectors) 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM AST
Iraq (AST, UTC+3) is 2 hours 30 minutes behind IST — the same offset as Saudi Arabia and Moscow. There is a generous 8-hour business overlap throughout the full Iraq working day.
IST ↔ Iraq Quick Reference
| 🇮🇳 IST | AST |
|---|---|
| 8:00 AM IST | 5:30 AM AST |
| 10:30 AM IST | 8:00 AM AST |
| 12:00 PM IST | 9:30 AM AST |
| 3:00 PM IST | 12:30 PM AST |
| 6:30 PM IST | 4:00 PM AST |
| 9:00 PM IST | 6:30 PM AST |
Key Commercial Ports
🇮🇳 India
| Port | City | Hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vishakhapatnam (VIZAG) | Andhra Pradesh | 24×7 | Primary terminal for Iraqi Basra crude oil cargoes |
| Mundra Port | Gujarat | 24×7 | Crude oil imports; large VLCC (supertanker) berths |
| JNPT / Nhava Sheva | Mumbai | 24×7 | Rice, pharma & construction goods export to Iraq |
🇮🇶 Iraq
| Port | City | Hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Umm Qasr Port | Basra | 24×7 | Iraq's only major deep-water seaport; handles ~80% of Iraq's non-oil imports including Indian rice & pharma |
| Khor az-Zubayr Port | Basra | 24×7 | Industrial port for bulk goods; near petrochemical facilities |
| Al Faw Grand Port (under construction) | Basra | Planned 2025–2028 | Iraq's mega deep-water port; will be one of Middle East's largest when complete |
* Most major international ports operate 24×7 for vessel operations; customs clearance and gate hours vary. Always verify with the port authority or your freight forwarder.
Top Traded Goods
🇮🇳 India Exports to Iraq
- Rice (basmati & non-basmati — Iraq is India's top rice export market)
- Pharmaceuticals & generics
- Textiles & apparel
- Construction materials & steel
- Sugar
- Engineering goods
- Tea & spices
🇮🇳 India Imports from Iraq
- Crude oil (Basra Heavy & Basra Medium grades)
- Naphtha & petroleum derivatives
- LPG
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between India and Iraq?
India (IST, UTC+5:30) is 2 hours 30 minutes ahead of Iraq (AST, UTC+3). Iraq does not observe daylight saving time, so this difference is constant year-round.
Is Iraq India's largest oil supplier?
Yes — as of 2023–24, Iraq overtook Saudi Arabia to become India's largest crude oil supplier, accounting for approximately 20–22% of India's total oil imports. India imports mainly Basra Heavy and Basra Medium grades, which are well-suited to Indian refineries.
Why does Iraq import so much rice from India?
Iraq is India's single largest rice export destination, importing 3–4 million tonnes annually (both basmati and non-basmati). Iraq relies on Indian rice because domestic rice production is insufficient. India supplies over 60% of Iraq's rice import needs through Umm Qasr port.
What are the best hours to contact Iraq from India?
Iraq business hours (8:00 AM–4:00 PM AST) equal 10:30 AM–6:30 PM IST. The entire Iraqi working day falls within India's business day, making it one of the most convenient contact corridors for Indian exporters.