Iraq’s exports hit $19.55 billion in Q1 2026

An oil export terminal in southern Iraq. Photo: Oil Ministry Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – Figures released by the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) showed that the country’s exports reached $19.55 billion in the first quarter of 2026, compared to imports of $10.27 billion. Hydrocarbons continued to account for the significant bulk of Iraq’s exports, exposing the country to larger global energy dynamics. Iraq’s crude oil exports totaled $18.64 billion, petroleum products $762.2 million, and other exports $148.5 million. The state sector’s imports totaled $1.35 billion, and the private sector’s imports reached $8.92 billion, according to the National Iraqi News Agency (NINA). Iraq’s trade balance indicated a surplus of $10.82 billion, according to figures from the CBI that compare exports with imports. The country’s exports during the first quarter of 2026 are lower than those of the fourth quarter of 2025, which stood at $21.62 billion. Iraq’s export capacity during the first quarter of 2026 experienced significant headwinds due to rigorous OPEC+ production limits and interruptions related to maritime shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.