Iraq is trying to boost its oil exports to maximize revenues while international oil prices are declining. That was shown in October when foreign sales were up but earnings went down.
In October Iraq exported an average of 3.569 million barrels a day of oil according to Iraq Oil Report. In September Iraq sold 3.405 million barrels. October saw the largest amount of exports since 2003.
Iraq was able to boost its output due to OPEC+ increasing the country’s quota. That has allowed Iraq to reach its highest production levels since 2019.
Unfortunately international prices have been declining. That meant despite the record high export figure Iraq only earned $6.798 billion in October down from $6.962 billion in September and over $7 billion in August and July respectively.
The International Energy Agency has predicted that demand for oil will decrease in major economies resulting in a drop in prices.
Since Iraq is the most petroleum dependent country in the world it has only one answer to this problem which is to try to sell as much oil as possible to try to maximize profits. This will likely help contribute to a drop in price but the country has no real alternative.
In the last two years the country has passed the largest budgets in its history and continues to expand its public workforce which takes a huge amount of government spending. Without oil revenues Baghdad won't be able to pay its salaries or pensions and social unrest could occur.
Federal Oil Exports, Prices, Revenues 2021-2024
|
Month |
Avg Export (Mil) |
Earnings (Bil) |
|
Jan 2021 |
2.868 |
$4.765 |
|
Feb |
2.96 |
$5.013 |
|
Mar |
2.946 |
$5.787 |
|
Apr |
2.947 |
$5.549 |
|
May |
2.899 |
$5.917 |
|
Jun |
2.892 |
$6.143 |
|
Jul |
2.918 |
$6.476 |
|
Aug |
3.054 |
$6.553 |
|
Sep |
3.081 |
$6.777 |
|
Oct |
3.12 |
$7.666 |
|
Nov |
3.272 |
$7.611 |
|
Dec |
3.277 |
$7.391 |
|
2021 Avg |
3.019 |
$6.303 |
|
Jan 2022 |
3.203 |
$8.323 |
|
Feb |
3.314 |
$8.544 |
|
Mar |
3.244 |
$10.913 |
|
Apr |
3.38 |
$10.554 |
|
May |
3.3 |
$11.44 |
|
Jun |
3.373 |
$11.505 |
|
Jul |
3.303 |
$10.608 |
|
Aug |
3.286 |
$9.784 |
|
Sep |
3.292 |
$8.845 |
|
Oct |
3.382 |
$9.258 |
|
Nov |
3.329 |
$8.231 |
|
Dec |
3.332 |
$7.709 |
|
2022 Avg |
3.311 |
$9.64 |
|
Jan 2023 |
3.266 |
$7.663 |
|
Feb |
3.184 |
$7.081 |
|
Mar |
3.255 |
$7.506 |
|
Apr |
3.288 |
$7.699 |
|
May |
3.305 |
$7.325 |
|
Jun |
3.335 |
$7.115 |
|
Jul |
3.444 |
$8.294 |
|
Aug |
3.423 |
$8.998 |
|
Sep |
3.438 |
$9.422 |
|
Oct |
3.534 |
$9.594 |
|
Nov |
3.433 |
$8.482 |
|
Dec |
3.486 |
$8.311 |
|
2023 Avg |
3.365 |
$8.124 |
|
Jan 2024 |
3.339 |
$8.026 |
|
Feb |
3.434 |
$7.96 |
|
Mar |
3.423 |
$8.65 |
|
Apr |
3.413 |
$8.75 |
|
May |
3.359 |
$8.14 |
|
Jun |
3.41 |
$8.25 |
|
Jul |
3.486 |
$9.08 |
|
Aug |
3.414 |
$8.49 |
|
Sep |
3.31 |
$7.11 |
|
Oct |
3.327 |
$7.47 |
|
Nov |
3.296 |
$7.01 |
|
Dec |
3.259 |
$7.15 |
|
2024 Avg |
3.372 |
$8.00 |
|
Jan 2025 |
3.298 |
$7.47 |
|
Feb |
3.398 |
$6.7 |
|
Mar |
3.441 |
$7.717 |
|
Apr |
3.365 |
$6.738 |
|
May |
3.278 |
$6.362 |
|
Jun |
3.296 |
$6.698 |
|
Jul |
3.379 |
$7.185 |
|
Aug |
3.381 |
$7.160 |
|
Sep |
3.405 |
$6.962 |
|
Oct |
3.569 |
$6.798 |
SOURCES
Iraq Oil Report, “September oil production edges higher,” 10/30/25
Nagraj, Aarti, “Oil prices drop sharply on expectations of Opec+ output increase,” The National, 9/30/25
Van Heuvelen, Ben, “October exports jump as northern pipeline resumes,” Iraq Oil Report, 11/5/25
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