Iraq resumes limited oil transit through Syria towards Mediterranean

Iraq has partially resumed transporting crude oil through Syria towards the Mediterranean Sea, marking a modest but symbolically significant step in reviving regional transit routes, a Syrian official said.

According to the head of the Syrian National Shipping and Logistics Association, Mohammed Riyad Al-Sayrafi, the development “effectively reinserts Syria into the regional transit map," Caliber.Az reports via Iraqi media. 

He called for the revival of the Kirkuk–Baniyas pipeline, describing it as a strategic option to cut transport costs and reduce reliance on maritime shipping.

Al-Sayrafi noted that trade between Iraq and Syria remains unbalanced, with Iraq exporting energy in exchange for Syrian goods. He added that Damascus could expand exports by supporting domestic production and easing access to Iraqi markets, as Baghdad continues to seek alternative export routes while Syria’s geographic position offers potential to serve as a regional corridor.

Although volumes transported overland remain “very limited” compared with Iraq’s large-scale maritime exports, Al-Sayrafi said the move is significant as it helps “break the deadlock and retest Syrian geography as a vital corridor for regional energy and trade.”

He cautioned that land transport is more costly and logistically complex, but said Iraq opted for this route to maintain export continuity amid regional uncertainties.

He also pointed to operational constraints, including weak road infrastructure, a lack of organised collection hubs, and full dependence on tanker trucks rather than pipelines, adding: “We are dealing with a solution that works, but is not yet efficient.”

Earlier this week, Iraq began exporting oil via the Al-Waleed border crossing. Moayad Al-Dulaimi, spokesperson for al-Anbar authorities, said 101 tanker trucks were authorised to pass, carrying a total of 3.2 million litres of crude.

Iraqi lawmaker Ali Shaddad previously said authorities are developing alternative routes as regional tensions disrupt flows through the Strait of Hormuz and affect output from southern oilfields, with contingency plans aimed at sustaining exports despite logistical and security challenges.

By Aghakazim Guliyev