Iraq ramps up oil exports, adds tanker shipments and plans land route through Syria

Iraq has increased output at several oil fields and is loading the extra barrels onto tankers for immediate sale on the world market. The surge creates short‑term investment appeal but also highlights maritime security risks, as a recent LNG‑tanker incident underscored the vulnerability of sea‑borne energy supplies.

At the same time Baghdad is developing a new overland corridor through Syria to diversify away from the Strait of Hormuz. The plan, outlined by the oil ministry, would route crude by truck from Basra to the Syrian border and onward to the Turkish port of Ceyhan, raising land‑based shipments from about 150‑200 k bpd to roughly 300 k bpd. Officials say the land route could mitigate the loss of up to 3.5 million barrels per day if Hormuz shipping is blocked, though it is more costly and limited in volume. The initiative aims to reduce Iraq’s dependence on Gulf ports, support the state budget and lay groundwork for longer‑term pipeline projects.