Iraq has become a new market for sellers of used foreign cars

The war in Iraq contributed to an unprecedented growth of trade with neighboring Jordan. This is most noticeable in the example of the market for used foreign cars. The port city of Akaba witnessed the invasion of the Iraqis, who arrived here to buy cars. And the cheapness of Iraqi gasoline only spurred this trade.

Tourists of the Jordanian port-resort city of Akaba until recently enjoyed the views of the Red Sea, Israel and Egypt. But over the past three months, this landscape has changed dramatically: opposite private beaches and even the most prestigious resort hotels, just a few hundred meters, there are huge cargo ships. In anticipation of the queue for unloading, they are forced to throw anchors here for at least five days, reports the Air Force .

City Akaba is the most busy port in the region. On board the ships standing in the port - cars, most of which were already sent to a landfill in the European market. These are mainly cars over 10 years old, mostly beaten in accidents.

However, in Iraq, a new life begins for them. According to the 49-year-old port doctor, Khaleda himself, only in July, about 60 thousand cars arrived in the Akaba port. “There is even so much space here. Therefore, cars are unloaded right on the mountain, near the port,” Khaled said.

Recall, a month after US President George Bush announced the end of active hostilities in Iraq, the American administration allowed the Iraqis to import cars to their country without restrictions and payment of mandatory state payments.

The flow of used cars rushed to Iraq from neighboring Jordan. The government of this country recently also removed various taxes on cars delivered by sea to the Jordanian port of Akaba from European ports, such as Hamburg in Germany.

Some Iraqis believe that the United States deliberately allowed an innocent automobile business - in the hope that this will distract the Iraqis from attacks on coalition forces.

Moreover, many have their own business - for the sale of artisanal gasoline. In the post -war Iraqi chaos, many began to illegally use oil wells, of which there are more than two thousand in the Iraqi rich in oil. However, most often oil is stealing directly from holes in oil pipelines.

In Baghdad, the price of 50 liters of gasoline is a little more than one dollar. Such an amount is quite affordable for car owners purchased in Jordan. But analysts warn that this is not a sign of healing of the Iraqi oil industry.