Skip to main content

Iraq Announces Increased Oil Exports in March

As Iraq’s Oil Ministry forecasts an increase in oil exports, certain political parties express their skepticism, writes Omar al-Shaher.
A worker adjusts a pipe at the Nassiriya oilfield in Nassiriya, 300km (185 miles) southeast of Baghdad,September 8, 2012. Production from Iraq's southern oilfields is at 2.5 million barrels per day as the country edges closer to becoming the world's biggest source of new supplies over the next few years, a senior Iraqi oil official said. Picture taken September 8, 2012. REUTERS/Atef Hassan (IRAQ - Tags: ENERGY BUSINESS) - RTR37U0R

Iraq announced that its oil exports during the month of March rose to nearly 75 million barrels, compared to its exports in February, which amounted to 71 million barrels. Meanwhile, the deputy chairman of the Finance Committee in the Iraqi parliament said that the Oil Ministry is using these figures to [divert attention from] the fact that it failed to deliver on its commitments to achieve a real increase in the volume of exports.

A spokesman for the Iraqi Oil Ministry, Assem Jihad, said in a statement received by Al-Monitor that the crude oil exports for the month of March witnessed an increase in the exported quantities and revenues, as the volume of exports reached 74.9 millions barrels with a revenue that amounted to $7.77 billion.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.