Iraq's crude oil exports saw a significant increase of 15% in October, equivalent to 380,000 barrels per day, reaching the highest level since the outbreak of the Iran war in February 2026. Data from the Washington-based Energy Research Unit showed
that seaborne crude oil exports rose to 2.96 million barrels per day in October, up from 2.58 million barrels per day in September. However, maritime exports remain 14% lower compared to October 2025 levels, which stood at 3.43 million barrels
per day. On October 19, Iraq's Oil Minister, Basim Mohammed Khudair, announced that the country's total crude oil exports exceeded 3.4 million barrels per day, aligning with maritime export data, considering that Iraq exported over 400,000 barrels via a pipeline
connected to Turkey. Over the first ten months of the year, seaborne crude oil exports continued their fifth consecutive monthly rise in October, with monthly export volumes as follows: - January: 3.31 million barrels per day - February: 3.34 million
barrels per day - March: 540,000 barrels per day - April: 132,000 barrels per day - May: 98,000 barrels per day - June: 515,000 barrels per day - July: 1.37 million barrels per day - August: 2.35 million barrels per
day - September: 2.58 million barrels per day - October: 2.96 million barrels per day Despite recent improvements, the average crude oil exports remain down by 49%, reaching 1.72 million barrels per day from January to October 2026, compared to
3.35 million barrels per day in the same period last year. Iraq's oil exports in October managed to reduce the annual decline to just 14%, after hitting historic lows in April and May with decreases exceeding 90% compared to pre-crisis
levels above 3.3 million barrels per day. Amid disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and some vessels turning off tracking devices, unknown destinations topped the list of countries importing Iraq's seaborne oil in October, accounting for about 1.50 million barrels
per day, more than half of the total shipments. Known destinations included China, which imported approximately 668,000 barrels per day, down 40% from October 2025; India, with imports dropping over 53% to 422,000 barrels per day; and the UAE, receiving
64,000 barrels per day in the same month, marking the fifth consecutive month UAE ports have received Iraqi crude shipments. This rise in Iraq's oil exports highlights a gradual recovery despite regional challenges and maritime transport disruptions.
