US dollar stabilizes near 164,000 IQD across Iraqi exchanges

Packs of Iraqi dinars and a person counting a pack of US dollars. Photo: NRT Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The U.S. dollar maintained a steady footing across Iraq’s parallel currency exchanges on Sunday, October 11, 2026, holding within the 163,000 to 164,000 dinar bracket as trading desks absorbed the Central Bank of Iraq’s updated statutory pricing structure. The spread against the official benchmark of 152,000 dinars per $100 has stabilized following last week’s sharp fluctuations, pointing to measured consolidation across wholesale hubs. According to market monitoring by the 964 Network, exchange bureaus and private trading counters in Baghdad posted cash selling rates at 164,250 dinars per $100, while purchase bids stood at 163,250 dinars, reflecting a modest uptick in cash demand in the capital. In Erbil, parallel trading desks recorded greenback selling prices at 163,450 dinars per $100 against purchase bids of 163,000 dinars. Meanwhile, in the southern commercial center of Basra, rates aligned closely with northern markets, where exchange counters quoted cash sales at 163,500 dinars per $100 alongside buying bids of 163,000 dinars. The prevailing price stability across Baghdad, Erbil, and Basra underscores a leveling-off period for the parallel currency market following earlier volatility that saw rates test the 170,000 threshold. While commercial activity gradually resumes after early-month retail freezes, traders continue to monitor central bank liquidity operations and foreign trade remittance processing through the official platform.