Optimizing Marine–Land Trade Corridors through Iraq: A Strategic Evaluation of Eurasian Connectivity via Umm Qasr and Overland Routes

Al Shihmani, Bashar Azeez Shon; Amirabadi, Rouhollah; Al Busaltan, Shakir; Babaei, Samira

doi:10.22034/ijcoe.2025.527834.1181

Optimizing Marine–Land Trade Corridors through Iraq: A Strategic Evaluation of Eurasian Connectivity via Umm Qasr and Overland Routes

Document Type : Original Research Article

Authors

Bashar Azeez Shon Al Shihmani ¹

Rouhollah Amirabadi ²

Shakir Al Busaltan ³

Samira Babaei ¹

¹ Coastal and Marine Structure Department, Faculty of Engineering, University of Qom, Qom, Iran

² University of Qom

³ Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Kerbala, Kerbala, Iraq

10.22034/ijcoe.2025.527834.1181

Abstract

This study presents a comprehensive evaluation of a proposed transcontinental freight corridor linking East and South Asia to Europe through Iraq, with the aim of enhancing regional connectivity and diversifying global trade routes. Two strategic configurations are modeled: a sea–land corridor via Iraq’s Umm Qasr Port (S1) and a fully land-based corridor traversing Iran and Iraq (S2). Using an integrated optimization framework that combines Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) with Genetic Algorithms (GA), the study analyzes each corridor’s performance across key logistics dimensions—cost, transit time, and geopolitical risk. Simulation results show that the sea–land corridor (S1) achieves a 12% reduction in cost and a 15% improvement in delivery time compared to traditional maritime routes such as the Suez Canal, while maintaining a moderate risk index. The land-only configuration (S2), though slightly more expensive and slower, offers increased operational sovereignty and resilience against maritime disruptions. Both scenarios are found to be scalable, adaptive to geopolitical conditions, and capable of absorbing up to 20 million tons of freight annually with appropriate infrastructure upgrades. The findings position Iraq as a pivotal node in Eurasian trade, capable of anchoring multimodal logistics systems that combine flexibility, redundancy, and efficiency. Policy implications include the need for investment in port modernization, intermodal infrastructure, and cross-border harmonization, particularly with Iran and Syria. This research contributes to the emerging discourse on resilient trade architecture and offers a replicable decision-support model for infrastructure planners and policymakers seeking to design future-proof transit corridors in geopolitically fragile regions.

Keywords

Multimodal transport

Iraq corridor

Eurasian trade

Umm Qasr port

Logistics optimization

Subjects