Image for representation purposes only The General Company for Ports of Iraq received the first cargo ship at the Umm Qasr Northern Port on June 1, 2026, after shipping operations officially resumed through the Strait of Hormuz. The bulk carrier, MV KSL XINYANG, arrived from China, highlighting a relief for regional supply chains after a long period of naval blockades and shipping disruptions caused by the US-Iran war. Farhan Al-Fartousi, Director General of the General Company for Ports of Iraq, mentioned in an official media release that the development reassures everyone regarding the restoration of maritime trade and return to normalcy. This event is expected to rejuvenate the economy and boost import volumes across the Iraqi ports as the nation continues to recover from the crisis and shortages of consumer goods due to the halt in shipping operations due to the U.S-Iran war. He added that the ship’s arrival also shows that Iraqi ports are receiving containerised goods despite the security challenges that had previously paralysed trade in the region. Al-Fartousi added that the successful docking and handling also show the operational readiness of Iraqi ports, which can adapt to maritime changes and reflect the trust global shipping companies have in the nation’s logistical and marine services. The MV KSL XINYANG is a bulk carrier sailing under the flag of the Marshall Islands. It is 190 m long, 32 m wide and has a deadweight capacity of 53,351 metric tonnes. Managed by Nanjing King Ship Management, it delivered 29,720 tons of heavy equipment, raw materials, and consumer goods from Chinese manufacturing hubs to Iraq.