Iraq has resumed limited crude oil exports through Turkey’s Mediterranean port of Ceyhan, authorities announced on Wednesday, marking a partial recovery in output following disruptions linked to regional tensions.
The state-owned North Oil Company confirmed that exports have restarted from the northern Kirkuk fields at an initial capacity of 250,000 barrels per day.
In a statement, the company said it “has begun operating the Sarlo pumping station to resume pumping and exporting Kirkuk oil to the port of Ceyhan with an initial capacity of 250,000 barrels per day.”
The resumption follows a sharp decline in Iraq’s oil production after disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route. Prior to the crisis, Iraq exported approximately 3.5 million barrels per day, largely from its southern Basra oilfields via the strait.
Authorities described the restart as a significant step after “a disruptive period that posed a significant challenge to the oil sector,” noting that the move was coordinated with the Kurdistan Regional Government, through which the export pipeline passes.
The Kurdistan natural resources ministry also confirmed that operations at the Sarlo station commenced early Wednesday morning to facilitate exports through the regional pipeline network to Ceyhan.
Oil revenues remain central to Iraq’s economy, accounting for roughly 90 per cent of government income. The renewed export route is expected to provide some relief as Baghdad continues to seek alternatives to bypass ongoing disruptions affecting southern export channels.
The development comes after prolonged negotiations between the federal government and Kurdish authorities, who had demanded specific conditions before allowing oil shipments through the region’s infrastructure.
