Iraq to Restart Kurdish Oil Exports Sept. 27

Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government, together with international oil companies, agreed to resume Kurdish oil exports via the Iraq–Turkey (Ceyhan) pipeline starting Sept. 27 after a more-than-two-year halt. Initial pumping is set at roughly 230,000–240,000 barrels per day, with about 180,000–190,000 bpd expected for seaborne shipments and roughly 50,000 bpd retained for local use; participating companies will receive approximately $14–$16 per barrel to cover production and transport. Norway’s DNO ASA and partner Genel said they will not export their contractor shares of roughly 30,000 bpd and will sell those volumes locally until the KRG provides payment guarantees, although DNO will deliver the KRG’s Tawke share (about 38,000 bpd) for export. The restart follows a tripartite deal between Baghdad, Erbil and international producers that officials and external backers welcomed, and the export arrangement runs into 2025–2026 with negotiations under way on renewal and pipeline terms with Turkey. Analysts warned the returning roughly 230,000 bpd to international markets could exacerbate post‑summer oversupply and force Iraq to adjust output elsewhere to meet production quotas.