Iraq Economic News and Points To Ponder Tuesday Afternoon 7-21-26

Hormuz Tensions Push India To Cancel Iraqi Oil Cargoes

2026-07-21 08:38   Shafaq News- Baghdad   State-owned Indian Oil Corp. on Tuesday canceled plans to load two million barrels of Iraqi crude from the Basra terminal onto the crude carrier (VLCC) Lila Jamnagar around July 23 because of security concerns in the Strait of Hormuz.

Quoting three sources, Reuters said another state-run refiner, Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd. (MRPL), also deferred loading an Iraqi oil cargo aboard the Indian-flagged tanker Desh Gaurav.

New Delhi has advised shipowners, vessel operators, and crewing companies not to deploy Indian seafarers aboard ships transiting Hormuz following the resumption of hostilities in the region.

During the first round of fighting between the US and Iran, from Feb. 28 to April 8, India slashed crude oil imports from Iraq by about 84% after disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz hit shipping.

https://www.shafaq.com/en/Economy/Hormuz-tensions-push-India-to-cancel-Iraqi-oil-cargoes

Chinese Exports To Iraq Fall 42% In H1 2026

2026-07-21 05:05   Shafaq News- Baghdad   Chinese exports to Iraq totaled $5.18 billion in the first half of 2026, down 41.7% from $8.89 billion in the same period last year, according to a report released on Tuesday by the Iraq Future Foundation for Economic Studies and Consultancy.

The report showed lower imports of air conditioners, consumer electronics and mobile phones, which had previously ranked among Iraq's leading imports from China.

Manar Al-Obaidi, head of the foundation, attributed the decline to higher customs tariffs on those products, which he said had risen to 33%, as well as supply-chain disruptions and shipping delays linked to instability in the Strait of Hormuz.

In contrast, imports of Chinese vehicles increased to $275 million in the first half of 2026 from $243 million a year earlier.

https://www.shafaq.com/en/Economy/Chinese-exports-to-Iraq-fall-42-in-H1-2026

Gold Edges Higher On Iran Ceasefire Proposal

2026-07-21 02:23   Shafaq News   Gold prices rose more than 1% on Tuesday as investors weighed ‌diplomatic efforts to ease the U.S.-Iran conflict, which could temper oil-driven inflation risks and influence the U.S. Federal Reserve's interest rate path.

Spot gold rose 1.2% to $4,054.24 per ounce as of ​0529 GMT. U.S. gold futures for August delivery were up 1.1% at $4,059.10.

"It ​looks like gold is trying to find a base somewhere around ⁠this ($4,000) level and is going to try to re-engage the upside from there," ​said Ilya Spivak, head of global macro at Tastylive.

"These headlines from the Middle ​East seem to have some degree of knock-on, though it is increasingly only being paid attention to in a passing kind of way."

Oil prices softened on Tuesday, with markets weighing reports ​of mediation efforts between the U.S. and Iran against an exchange of fresh ​attacks between the two and threats of a naval blockade of Saudi Arabia by Yemen's Houthis.

A senior ‌Iranian ⁠official told Reuters on Monday that Tehran had received a proposal from mediators for a 10-day ceasefire in efforts to salvage the interim deal, intended to pave the way to a lasting agreement to end the war.

The recent escalation in the ​conflict drove oil prices ​to more than ⁠a one-month high on Monday, with a growing chorus of U.S. policymakers arguing interest rates may need to rise to beat back ​persistent inflation.

High interest rates increase the opportunity cost of holding ​non-yielding bullion.

While ⁠the Federal Reserve is widely expected to keep interest rates unchanged at next week's meeting, traders are currently pricing a 64% chance of a rate hike in September, ⁠according ​to the CME FedWatch Tool. FEDWATCH

Spot silver gained 2.8% ​to $57.99 per ounce, platinum was up 1% at $1,610.06 and palladium rose 1.2% to $1,267.68.   (Reuters)

https://www.shafaq.com/en/Economy/Gold-edges-higher-on-Iran-ceasefire-proposal

Iraq Stock Exchange Logs $290M+ In Trading In H1 2026

2026-07-21 07:38  Shafaq News- Baghdad  The Iraq Stock Exchange (ISX) on Tuesday recorded trading worth 390.35 billion Iraqi dinars ($296.67M) during the first half of 2026, with 389.46 billion shares changing hands across 112 sessions.

Shares in 90 of the exchange’s 120 listed companies were traded through 119,375 transactions carried out by 37 brokerage firms using the electronic trading system.

The ISX60 index ended the first half at 1,019.39 points, marking a 5.56% increase from a year earlier, while the ISX15 finished at 1,273.79 points, up 16.52% over the same period.

Twenty-two listed companies saw no trading activity, while eight others remained suspended throughout the period.

https://www.shafaq.com/en/Economy/Iraq-Stock-Exchange-logs-290M-in-trading-in-H1-2026

China delivers first batch to Iraq's maritime fleet

2026-07-21 09:45  Shafaq News- Basra  Iraq's General Company for Maritime Transport, based in Basra, took preliminary delivery of 15 modern marine boats and three passenger ferries, the company's director said on Tuesday.

According to Ahmad Jassem, the new ferries will operate passenger routes between Iraq and Gulf countries, helping boost travel, trade, and tourism while opening new opportunities for regional cooperation in maritime transport.

https://www.shafaq.com/en/Economy/China-delivers-first-batch-to-Iraq-s-maritime-fleet

Rice Leads India's $545M Exports To Iraq In Q1

2026-07-21 13:25   Shafaq News- Baghdad  India exported goods worth $545 million to Iraq during the first quarter of 2026, India's Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics said on Tuesday.

Data showed that rice topped India's exports to Iraq at $169 million, followed by frozen beef at $60 million and petroleum oils and related products at $50 million. Other major exports included bananas worth $46 million, pharmaceuticals at $25 million, large-diameter steel pipes at $20 million, ceramic tiles at $16 million, and tea at $13 million.

The directorate also reported that sunflower seed oil shipments reached $6.1 million, while exports of passenger vehicles totaled $5.9 million during the same period.

According to InfoFlix data in January, Iraq ranked as India's seventh-largest trading partner, with bilateral trade totaling $33.3 billion.

https://www.shafaq.com/en/Economy/Rice-leads-India-s-545M-exports-to-Iraq-in-Q1