Iraq Duty Free, managed by Financial Links a division of Iraq’s ASK Group, is forecasting growth of +25% to 30% in 2015, following a +16% rise in annual sales in 2014.

IDF, established in 2003, tells TRBusiness: “We are confident of achieving (this) increase due to expected strong growth in passenger traffic… Iraqi Airways has promised to open new routes.”

Following the war in Iraq, the airline resumed international services in 2004 and, since then, it has built up its network to include a number of key European destinations such as Frankfurt, Vienna and Copenhagen, plus Guangzhou in China, as well as routes in the Middle East. Many of these routes have been established since 2013 on the back of sizeable aircraft orders.

Some 80% of IDF’s sales are made at Baghdad Airport.

Baghdad International Airport, the busiest airport in Iraq, is IDF’s top location for duty free sales representing 80% of the retailer’s turnover, followed by Basrah International Airport with 12%, and Sulaimainya International contributing the remaining 8%.

BEAUTY ON A ROLL DESPITE SALES SUSPENSION

Last year, IDF generated a +67% uplift in perfume sales and +22% in cosmetics, the retailer’s bestselling categories. The company expects Q1 2015 to deliver rises of between +10% and +20%, and +5% and +10% respectively.

Last year’s growth is has been attributed to renovated points of sales and increased retail space. In a statement, IDF says: “We had to suspend any purchases between June and September due to the imminent and possible advance of Islamic State on Baghdad and the international airport. We are now back in business and see a huge potential for 2015.”