Iraq Economic News And Points To Ponder Thursday Afternoon 4-23-26
Basrah Crudes Lead Regional Oil Benchmarks
2026-04-23 Shafaq News- Basrah Iraq’s Basrah crudes edged lower by 0.5% on Thursday, outperforming several regional benchmarks.
Market data showed Basrah Heavy falling 56 cents, or 0.50% to $111.94 per barrel, and Basrah Medium crude declined 56 cents, or 0.49%, reaching $114.04 per barrel.
In contrast, several regional grades declined, with Saudi Light at $109.04 per barrel, Qatar’s Al-Shaheen at $97.63, Kuwait crude at $93.64, UAE’s Murban at $103.12, and Iran Light at $94.84.
Globally, Brent crude futures rose $1.37, or 1.3%, to $103.28 a barrel. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude were also up $1.52, or 1.6%, at $94.48.
Iraq prices its crude based on export destinations, with shipments to Asia linked to the Dubai and Oman benchmarks, exports to Europe tied to Brent with premiums or discounts, and cargoes to the United States priced against WTI in line with market conditions. https://www.shafaq.com/en/Economy/Basrah-crudes-lead-regional-oil-benchmarks-6
Gold Prices Fall In Baghdad And Erbil
2026-04-23 Shafaq News- Baghdad/ Erbil On Thursday, gold prices hovered around 1.03 million IQD per mithqal in Baghdad and Erbil markets, according to a survey by Shafaq News Agency.
Gold prices on Baghdad's Al-Nahr Street recorded a selling price of 1.031 million IQD per mithqal (equivalent to five grams) for 21-carat gold, including Gulf, Turkish, and European varieties, with a buying price of 1.028 million IQD. The same gold had sold for 1.035 million IQD on Wednesday.
The selling price for 21-carat Iraqi gold stood at 1.001 million IQD, while the buying price reached 998,000 IQD.
In jewelry stores, the selling price per mithqal of 21-carat Gulf gold ranged between 1.030 million and 1.040 million IQD, while Iraqi gold sold for between 1.000 million and 1.010 million IQD.
In Erbil, 22-carat gold was sold at 1.071 million IQD per mithqal, 21-carat gold at 1.023 million IQD, and 18-carat gold at 876,000 IQD. https://www.shafaq.com/en/Economy/Gold-prices-fall-in-Baghdad-and-Erbil-6-0
Iraq Expands E-Governance With New Company Registration System
2026-04-23 Shafaq News- Baghdad Iraq launched an integrated electronic platform for company registration to streamline procedures and boost the business environment, the trade minister said on Thursday.
Atheer Al-Ghurairy told a press conference that the platform, operated by the Companies Registration Directorate, aims to automate processes and accelerate transactions for both local and foreign firms. He clarified that the project includes the digital archiving of more than 103,000 documents and 18 million records, while enabling citizens and business owners to track their transactions online.
In 2024, the government launched a national e-governance program, followed in 2025 by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani’s inauguration of the Digital Transformation and Automation Center to streamline procedures and reduce bureaucracy.
Government data released in July showed digital adoption across ministries and public institutions rose from 18% in 2022 to 32% in 2025. Read more: Digital Transformation in Iraq: Combating Corruption through E-Governance
https://www.shafaq.com/en/Economy/Iraq-expands-e-governance-with-new-company-registration-system
USD/IQD exchange rates advance in Baghdad and Erbil
2026-04-23 Shafaq News- Baghdad/ Erbil The US dollar closed Thursday’s trading higher in Iraq, hovering around 156,000 dinars per 100 dollars.
According to Shafaq News market survey, the dollar traded in Baghdad's Al-Kifah and Al-Harithiya exchanges at 155,500 dinars per 100 dollars, up from the morning session’s 154,950 dinars.
In the Iraqi capital, exchange shops sold the dollar at 156,000 dinars and bought it at 154,000 dinars, while in Erbil, selling prices stood at 155,050 dinars and buying prices at 154,950 dinars.
https://www.shafaq.com/en/Economy/USD-IQD-exchange-rates-advance-in-Baghdad-and-Erbil-1
Iranian Kurdish Opposition Accuses Iran Of 700 Sovereignty Breaches In Iraq
2026-04-23 Shafaq News- Al-Sulaymaniyah Iran has violated Iraqi sovereignty more than 700 times since the escalation of regional tensions, including after the ceasefire took effect on April 8, the opposition Alliance of Iranian Kurdistan Political Parties said on Thursday, noting that Iraq’s Kurdistan Region has been “a primary target.”
The alliance stated that more than 150 direct strikes targeted camps hosting Iranian Kurdish political refugees, killing 21 people, including 10 activists and group members.
It condemned the drone and missile attacks as “an attempt to deflect from Iran’s setbacks,” and described strikes on consulates, political camps, and civilian areas as “war crimes,” urging the United Nations and concerned states to take a firm stance while reaffirming support for stability in the Region.
Since hostilities escalated between the United States, Iran, and Israel on February 28, the Kurdistan Region has faced around 650 missile and drone incidents affecting diplomatic facilities, sites linked to Iranian Kurdish opposition groups, Peshmerga positions, oil fields, communication networks, residential areas, and public infrastructure, leaving about 16 people dead and 100 injured. Read more: 650 Strikes in Iraqi Kurdistan: How deniability became a weapon