Iraq Economic News And Points To Ponder Thursday Evening 3-26-26

ADNOC: Iran Curbs On Hormuz Amount To “Economic Terrorism”

2026-03-26 Shafaq News- Washington   Any Iranian restrictions on passage through the Strait of Hormuz would amount to “economic terrorism,” ADNOC CEO Sultan Al-Jaber said on Thursday.

ADNOC is the national oil company of Abu Dhabi and one of the world’s largest energy producers.

Speaking at a press conference in the United States, Al-Jaber warned that holding Hormuz “hostage” would raise fuel, food, and medicine costs worldwide, adding that no country should be allowed to destabilize the global economy.

Freedom of navigation through the strait is the “only durable solution” to stabilize global markets, he said.

Iran earlier this week emphasized that the Strait of Hormuz remains open, but only for “non-hostile” vessels coordinating with its authorities, according to Iranian outlets.   https://www.shafaq.com/en/Economy/ADNOC-Iran-curbs-on-Hormuz-amount-to-economic-terrorism

Iraq Oil Exports Reach $6.8B In February

2026-03-26 Shafaq News- Baghdad   Iraq exported 99,872,220 barrels of crude and condensate oil in February 2026 , generating $6.814 billion in revenue, the Oil Ministry said on Thursday.

Citing figures from the State Organization for Marketing of Oil (SOMO), the ministry noted that exports from central and southern fields accounted for the largest share at 93,349,480 barrels. The data also showed that exports from the Kurdistan Region via Turkiye’s Ceyhan port totaled 5,551,610 barrels, while shipments from the Qayyarah field reached 971,130 barrels.   In January, Iraq exported over 107.6 million barrels of crude oil, generating about $6.49 billion in revenue    https://www.shafaq.com/en/Economy/Iraq-oil-exports-reach-6-8B-in-February

Basrah Crude Drops Over 8% Despite Global Oil Rise

2026-03-26 Shafaq News- Basra   Basrah crude fell more than 8% on Thursday, diverging from rising global oil prices.

Basrah Heavy dropped $9.75, or 8.22%, to $108.93 per barrel, while Basrah Medium fell by the same amount, 8.07%, to $111.03 per barrel.

Global benchmarks rose, with Brent at $103.22 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) at $91.50, recovering part of the previous session’s losses.

Iraqi crude is priced by destination: exports to Asia track the average of Dubai and Oman crude, shipments to Europe are benchmarked to Brent, and exports to the United States follow WTI, each with premiums or discounts based on market conditions.    https://www.shafaq.com/en/Economy/Basrah-crude-drops-over-8-despite-global-oil-rise

Oil Rebounds $1 As Middle East Ceasefire Hopes Fade

2026-03-26 Shafaq News   Oil rose more than $1 per barrel on Thursday, ‌clawing back losses from the previous session, on concerns that protracted fighting in the Middle East will further disrupt energy flows.

Brent futures rose $1.65, or 1.61%, to $103.87 a barrel by 0424 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were up $1.49, or 1.65%, at $91.81 a barrel.

Both benchmarks slumped more than 2% on Wednesday.

Iran is still reviewing a U.S. proposal to end the war, but has no intention of holding talks to end the Middle ⁠East conflict, Iran's foreign minister said on Wednesday.

U.S. President Donald Trump will hit Iran harder if Tehran fails to accept that the country has been "defeated militarily", White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.

"Optimism regarding a ceasefire has faded," said Tsuyoshi Ueno, senior economist at NLI Research Institute.

He added that the bar set by Washington appeared high, leaving oil prices vulnerable to further volatility depending on negotiations and military actions by both sides.

Trump's 15-point proposal, sent through Pakistan, calls for removing Iran's stocks of highly enriched uranium, halting enrichment, curbing its ballistic missile program and cutting off funding for regional allies, according to three Israeli cabinet sources familiar ‌with ⁠the plan.

The conflict has all but halted shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, which typically carries about one-fifth of the world's crude oil and liquefied natural gas supply. The International Energy Agency has called it the biggest-ever oil supply disruption.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi asked IEA chief Fatih Birol for an additional coordinated release of oil stockpiles during ⁠talks on Wednesday, as Tokyo seeks to hedge against a prolonged Middle East conflict.

Adding to supply concerns, at least 40% of Russia's oil export capacity is at a halt following Ukrainian drone attacks, a disputed attack on a major pipeline ⁠and the seizure of tankers, according to Reuters calculations based on market data.

Iraqi oil production has slumped, with storage tanks reaching high and critical levels, three Iraqi energy officials said on Wednesday.

U.S. crude inventories rose ⁠by 6.9 million barrels to 456.2 million barrels in the week ended March 20, the highest since June 2024 and far exceeding analysts' expectations in a Reuters poll for a 477,000-barrel increase. 

(Reuters)   https://www.shafaq.com/en/Economy/Oil-rebounds-1-as-Middle-East-ceasefire-hopes-fade

USD/IQD Exchange Rates Climb In Baghdad And Erbil

2026-03-26 Shafaq News- Baghdad/ Erbil   The US dollar opened Thursday’s trading higher in Iraq, hovering around 155,000 dinars per 100 dollars.

According to Shafaq News market survey, the dollar traded in Baghdad's Al-Kifah and Al-Harithiya exchanges at 154,700 dinars per 100 dollars, up from the previous session’s 154,500 dinars.

In the Iraqi capital, exchange shops sold the dollar at 155,250 dinars and bought it at 154,250 dinars, while in Erbil, selling prices stood at 154,450 dinars and buying prices at 154,350 dinars.   https://www.shafaq.com/en/Economy/USD-IQD-exchange-rates-climb-in-Baghdad-and-Erbil-5

Dollar Drops In Baghdad, Rises In Erbil

2026-03-26 Shafaq News- Baghdad/ Erbil   The US dollar closed Thursday’s trading mixed in Iraq, hovering around 154,000 dinars per 100 dollars.

According to a Shafaq News market survey, the dollar traded in Baghdad's Al-Kifah and Al-Harithiya exchanges at 154,500 dinars per 100 dollars, down from the morning session’s 154,700 dinars.

In the Iraqi capital, exchange shops sold the dollar at 155,000 dinars and bought it at 154,000 dinars, while in Erbil, selling prices stood at 154,550 dinars and buying prices at 154,400 dinars.

https://www.shafaq.com/en/Economy/Dollar-drops-in-Baghdad-rises-in-Erbil

Gold Prices Dip In Baghdad, Erbil

2026-03-26   Shafaq News- Baghdad/ Erbil   On Thursday, gold prices hovered around 970,000 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 965,000 IQD per mithqal (equivalent to five grams) for 21-carat gold, including Gulf, Turkish, and European varieties, with a buying price of 961,000 IQD. The same gold had sold for 993,000 IQD on Wednesday.

The selling price for 21-carat Iraqi gold stood at 935,000 IQD, while the buying price reached 931,000 IQD.

In jewelry stores, the selling price per mithqal of 21-carat Gulf gold ranged between 965,000 and 975,000 IQD, while Iraqi gold sold for between 935,000 and 945,000 IQD.

In Erbil, 22-carat gold was sold at 1.040 million IQD per mithqal, 21-carat gold at 993,000 IQD, and 18-carat gold at 850,000 IQD.  https://www.shafaq.com/en/Economy/Gold-prices-dip-in-Baghdad-Erbil-0-2

Gold Stabilizes As Markets Await Middle East Developments

2026-03-26 Shafaq News   Gold prices held steady on Thursday, as investors awaited clearer signs ‌of progress in Middle East de-escalation efforts and stayed cautious ahead of fresh geopolitical developments that could shape safe-haven demand.

Spot gold was steady at $4,503.29 per ounce as of 0300 GMT. U.S. gold futures for April delivery lost 1.2% to $4,500.

Iran said it is reviewing a U.S. proposal to end the war, but added it has no intentions of holding talks ⁠to end the widening conflict, the country's foreign minister said on Wednesday.

The U.S. had sent a 15-point ceasefire proposal to Tehran earlier this week, reportedly via Pakistan.

"In the next 24 to 48 hours (gold prices) will just be about reacting to headlines about negotiations," said Kyle Rodda, a senior financial market analyst at Capital.com.

"The really big moves will happen probably at the start of next week when it becomes clearer whether the U.S. launches a ground invasion in Iran over the weekend..."

U.S. President Donald Trump vowed to hit Iran harder if Tehran failed to accept that ‌the ⁠country has been "defeated militarily", White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Wednesday.

Pressuring bullion, crude oil climbed above $100 a barrel as investors re-examined prospects for de-escalation in the Middle East.

Since the start of the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran, Tehran has attacked nations that host U.S. bases and effectively closed the Strait ⁠of Hormuz, which handles a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas.

Higher crude prices tend to fuel inflation by pushing up transport and manufacturing costs. Although rising inflation typically boosts gold's appeal ⁠as a hedge, high interest rates weigh on demand for the non-yielding asset.

Markets are no longer pricing in any easing from the Federal Reserve this year, according to CME Group's FedWatch ⁠Tool. Before the conflict began, market expectations pointed to at least two rate cuts this year. FEDWATCH

Spot silver fell 0.1% to $71.19 per ounce. Spot platinum lost 0.7% to $1,906.90, while palladium fell 1.4% to $1,404.

(Reuters)    Gold stabilizes as markets await Middle East developments - Shafaq News