Iraq shifts oil exports from Hormuz to Ceyhan

Iraq’s oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz fell sharply in April 2026, according to the country’s new oil minister, Basim Mohammed. He reported that only 10 million barrels were shipped through the key waterway during the month, a steep decline from the pre‑war average of about 93 million barrels per month.

The reduction highlights the disruption facing one of the main routes for Iraq’s crude. Exports via Hormuz have been curtailed as regional hostilities linked to the Iran war have affected logistics and raised security risks along the corridor.

The ongoing conflict in the region has severely affected Iraq’s oil supply routes. With flows through the Strait of Hormuz constrained, the country’s ability to reach traditional buyers has been limited, contributing to tighter supplies and higher prices in global energy markets, according to Iraqi officials’ assessments in the provided reports.

The geopolitical tensions are not isolated to Iraq. Other oil‑exporting nations that rely on the Strait of Hormuz are also facing uncertainty around shipment security and timing, adding a broader layer of risk for importers and traders.

Iraq is currently producing about 1.4 million barrels of oil per day. The lower export volumes through Hormuz contrast with this output level, underlining the gap between production capacity and actual seaborne exports via the strait.

This mismatch has increased the importance of alternative routes and infrastructure that can move crude to buyers without transiting the heavily contested waterway.

To mitigate dependence on the Strait of Hormuz, Iraq is exploring ways to enhance exports through the Turkish port of Ceyhan. Authorities plan to lift shipments on this route from around 200,000 barrels per day to 500,000 barrels per day.

Expanding flows through Ceyhan would provide an overland and Mediterranean outlet for Iraqi crude, partially offsetting reduced capacity through Hormuz. The planned increase would represent a significant rebalancing of Iraq’s export strategy toward northern pipeline infrastructure.

The steep fall in Iraqi exports via Hormuz, combined with efforts to reroute supplies, underscores how regional instability is reshaping trade patterns. For oil markets, this translates into ongoing uncertainty over available volumes, transit risks, and pricing.

While Iraq is working to adjust by ramping up exports through Ceyhan, the situation around the Strait of Hormuz remains a central variable for regional producers and global buyers monitoring supply security.