U.S. crude oil imports from Iraq drop to zero

The Iraqi and US flags outside a hotel in the Iraqi capital Baghdad on September 27, 2020. Photo: AFP Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) — Official data released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) on Sunday, August 30, 2026, shows that United States imports of Iraqi crude oil fell back to zero barrels per day (bpd) during the past week, down from an average of 6,000 bpd recorded the previous week. The fluctuation follows an extended summer lull where direct crude shipments from Iraq to U.S. refiners remained largely suspended amid ongoing maritime transit adjustments in the Gulf. Canada maintained its dominant position as the primary foreign crude supplier to American refineries, while Latin American and West African exporters filled the bulk of remaining import volume: RankExporter CountryVolume (bpd)1Canada3,526,0002Venezuela662,0003Brazil348,0004Mexico196,0005Saudi Arabia165,0006Colombia141,0007Libya89,0008Nigeria50,000—Iraq0—Ecuador0 Note: The EIA recorded zero crude imports during the same reporting week from Algeria, Angola, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Kuwait, Norway, Russia, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United Kingdom. Market Dynamics Behind the Zero-Import Week Shift to Asian Offtakers: The temporary drop to zero barrels for U.S.-bound cargoes contrasts with steady flows to Asia, where the State Organization for Marketing of Oil (SOMO) directs the vast majority of Basrah Medium and Heavy grades to contracted refiners in India and China. Freight and Route Economics: Elevated maritime shipping rates and fluctuating Gulf routing lead U.S. Gulf Coast refiners to prioritize nearby heavy and medium crudes from Canada, Venezuela, Brazil, and Mexico.