Iraq starts overland fuel oil shipments to Syria

Iraq has started overland exports of fuel oil to Syria, Iraq’s Oil Ministry announced on April 1, aiming to support the national economy and provide financial revenues to the state treasury.

In a statement, the ministry highlighted coordination with Syrian authorities to ensure the delivery of shipments across Syrian territory to export terminals, noting that volumes will increase gradually to boost export capacity, Shafaq News reports.

Meanwhile, Iraq had earlier resumed crude oil exports through Türkiye’s Ceyhan port.

The Syrian Petroleum Company confirmed the arrival of the first Iraqi fuel shipments at storage tanks in the Baniyas refinery, transported through Al-Tanf crossing, with unloading operations underway according to operational plans. "The move is part of an integrated supply plan to prepare shipments for reloading onto specialised tankers for final export destinations," the company stated, citing the efficiency of infrastructure and operational teams.

Earlier on April 1, the Syrian Petroleum Company told Shafaq News that the first convoys of Iraqi fuel oil had reached Baniyas via Al-Tanf, marking the beginning of a new transit phase.

According to Reuters, Iraq’s State Organisation for Marketing of Oil (SOMO) has signed contracts to supply about 650,000 metric tons of fuel oil per month from April to June, with shipments transported overland through Syria. The head of Al-Waleed subdistrict, Mujahid Mardhi Al-Dulaimi, said more than 150 tankers are currently waiting to enter Syrian territory, expecting the number of daily crossings to reach around 500.