Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – Iraqi oil is on its way to a new export route via Syrian territory to reduce reliance on southern sea ports following shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.
According to Attaqa News, Iraq plans to export crude oil and naphtha through the Mediterranean ports of Baniyas and Tartus in Syria. This project is part of a larger drive to diversify export routes and ensure that supplies reach worldwide markets.
These developments came after the Iraqi Oil Ministry and Syria signed a deal to manage crude oil transport, storage, and handling.
The decision signals a strategic shift in Baghdad’s export policy, with the Oil Ministry stressing that diversifying export routes will remain a possibility even after traffic along the crucial canal stabilizes.
The measure is also part of an effort to reduce geopolitical risks to Iraq’s exports, given the country’s reliance on oil exports to fund its general budget.
The spokesperson for the Iraqi Oil Ministry, Salim al-Rikabi, stated that the government is supporting the diversification of crude oil export routes. He added that efforts continue to expand export operations through Syria.
Given the cabinet’s goal of reducing Iraq’s reliance on a single export route, attempts to diversify crude oil export channels would continue even once regular marine traffic via the strait resumes, according to al-Rikabi.
Iraq exports more than 3.4 million barrels of oil per day, the bulk of which passes through the southern ports in Basra.
Iraqi crude oil exports plummeted by 3.22 million barrels per day in May 2026, a more than 97 percent drop, due to recurring challenges in the Strait of Hormuz.