I'm in Iraq and my bank can't send USD. What do I do?
If your Iraqi bank can't process a direct USD wire to China, you route the deposit through a corporate account that matches your contract entity, or use a third-country intermediary bank your freight forwarder already works with. This is normal for Iraq buyers, not a red flag, and it does not change our 30% deposit / 70% against BL copy structure.
Why this concern is real
Since 2023, Iraqi correspondent banks have tightened USD clearing rules, and many mid-size banks in Baghdad and Basra can no longer route SWIFT payments above certain thresholds without extra compliance review. This is a banking-system issue, not a supplier issue. Buyers in Erbil and Basra tell us the same thing every month: the transfer gets stuck at the correspondent bank, not at our end. You are not the only importer facing this, and it does not mean you cannot import twin tubs or grade B stock from us.
How it actually works
Our standard term is 30% deposit to confirm the order, then 70% against a copy of the Bill of Lading after you've reviewed the container-loading video. For Iraq specifically, most buyers now pay the 30% deposit through a corporate account in Turkey, UAE, or Jordan that matches the name on their contract entity, then settle the 70% balance the same way once the BL copy and video are sent. The corporate account name must match your contract entity exactly, or our finance team cannot reconcile the payment and the shipment gets held at our warehouse in Foshan. This single detail causes most of the delays we see from Iraqi buyers, so double check it before you send anything.
How we handle it at Apex Home Export
We source from 184 factories, and every unit that reaches your grade — A (under 3 years, 90-day warranty), B (under 5 years, 30-day warranty), or C (tested as-is) — passes our 27-point bench test with a serial-logged record before it ships. For Iraq orders, once your 30% deposit clears through whichever bank route you've arranged, we log the order against your contract entity name, start sourcing, and send the loading video before asking for the 70% balance. If you want independent verification before the balance payment, SGS and Bureau Veritas inspections are welcome at your cost, and we schedule them around the container loading date so you're not paying for a second trip to the yard. We do not ship used cooling appliances or used TVs to any market, Iraq included, so if your order list has those items we'll flag it before booking freight.
What you should do before you pay
- Confirm the corporate account you're paying from matches your contract entity name exactly — mismatches freeze the shipment at our end.
- Ask your freight forwarder or a Baghdad trading partner which intermediary bank route they currently use for China payments; routes change every few months.
- Request the 27-point bench test log and serial numbers for your grade (A, B, or C) before sending the 70% balance.
- Book SGS or Bureau Veritas inspection early if you want it — schedule against the container loading date, not after.
- Keep a copy of every SWIFT reference and BL copy in one file; Iraqi customs at Umm Qasr will ask for both.
Bank restrictions in Iraq are a real obstacle, but they don't stop the 30/70 process — they just change which account sends the wire. Message us on WhatsApp at https://wa.me/8619905922526 with your contract entity name and we'll confirm which payment route other Baghdad and Basra buyers are using this month.