Baghdad starts jet fuel exports with daily shipments reaching up to 1,000 tons

BAGHDAD — The Iraqi Ministry of Oil on Tuesday announced the launch of jet fuel exports, with daily shipments ranging between 800 and 1,000 tons, or about 1 million to 1.25 million liters. The fuel being exported meets international standards, according to the ministry.

Hamid Younis, undersecretary of the Ministry of Oil for refining affairs, said the exports are being carried out from Iraqi ports. “The ministry has begun exporting jet fuel at a rate of 800 to 1,000 tons per day,” Younis said. He emphasized that the exported fuel meets international specifications.

Younis noted that this move is part of broader efforts to increase revenue and support Iraq’s economy.

Iraq recently achieved self-sufficiency in liquefied petroleum gas and began exporting it. On Sept. 22, the country loaded three tankers simultaneously with liquefied petroleum gas and condensates, following the expansion of export capacity at the Umm Qasr port.

Iraq’s government has set a goal to halt gasoline imports by early next year and begin exporting diesel after meeting domestic needs. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has said the government aims to process 40% of the country’s crude oil into refined products, which officials say will generate higher revenue than selling raw crude.

Despite being one of the world’s top crude oil producers, Iraq has faced shortages of refined petroleum products in recent years. The country spends about $5 billion annually on imports to meet domestic demand, with $3.5 billion of that going toward gasoline and diesel.