Syria starts loading Iraqi oil for re-export

DAMASCUS,— Syria on Wednesday started loading its first tanker carrying Iraqi oil at the Baniyas port refinery, state media and an AFP reported, as Iraq faced major limits on exports during the Middle East conflict.

Maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has been disrupted, bringing Iraqi exports to a stop and causing storage tanks to fill quickly, which forced authorities to mostly suspend production.

In early April, Iraq said it began moving oil by truck across Syria to prepare for shipment by sea.

Ahmed Qubbaji, deputy chief executive of the Syrian Petroleum Company, said loading of the first tanker is now underway under an agreement with Iraq to transport crude to Baniyas and then to the terminal for export.

He said about 500,000 tons will be loaded and the process will take at least three days.

Qubbaji said the deal allows Syria to take needed volumes for power plants to produce electricity, with remaining supplies exported.

Dozens of trucks with Iraqi plates entered Tartus and heading toward the refinery and nearby storage tanks.

In March 2026, Iraq’s state oil marketer SOMO finalized deals to supply about 650,000 metric tons of fuel oil per month from April to June, to be transported by truck through Syria, Iraqi energy officials and a SOMO document showed.

Iraq’s oil ministry earlier said exports by truck through Syria had begun. Iraq, a founding member of OPEC, depends on oil exports for about 90 percent of budget revenue.

Before the war began on February 28, most output, about 3.5 million barrels per day, was shipped through the Gulf.

Last month, Iraq said it resumed some exports, up to 250,000 barrels per day, via the Kurdistan pipeline to Turkey’s Ceyhan port.

The step reflects efforts to manage supply constraints during the conflict and maintain limited export flows.

Officials did not provide further details on future shipments or timelines. They said trucking operations remain active under the agreement between both sides.

Monitoring continues at the port. It also continues at nearby facilities. These sites handle incoming crude supplies on a daily basis.

(With files from AFP | Reuters)