Iraq Economic News And Points To Ponder Wednesday Morning 4-15-26
Giant Tankers Head To Basra Ports, And Iraqi Crude Oil Flows To Markets Despite The Hormuz Blockade.
Money and Business Economy News – Baghdad Giant oil tankers continue their journeys to Iraqi ports to load crude shipments, despite escalating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and the tightening of the US embargo on ships linked to Iran, in an indication of the continued global demand for Iraqi oil and the assurance of the security of its supplies.
Shipping data from the international ship-tracking company Kpler showed that the giant oil tanker "Alecia" - which is on the US sanctions lists - entered the waters of the Gulf and is expected to dock in Iraq in the coming days.
In the same context, the tanker "Agios Phanorios 1" was spotted making its way towards Basra to load a shipment of "Basra crude" destined for a refinery in Vietnam.
In contrast, the data revealed that the tanker "Rich Stary" failed to overcome the American embargo imposed on ships that had previously docked in Iranian ports, forcing it to return to the Strait of Hormuz one day after attempting to leave the Gulf.
This maritime confusion comes in the wake of Washington’s announcement of a comprehensive naval blockade on Tehran, which has severely restricted the movement of ships; tankers linked to the Iranian side have been unable to cross the strait in recent hours, and some have been forced to return to their points of origin.
These measures have caused a noticeable decline in shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz - the world's most important energy artery - amid a state of anticipation and caution prevailing in global energy markets as they await the outcome of the current escalation. https://www.economy-news.net/content.php?id=67929
Iraq Topped The List Of Importers Of Jordanian Exports During The First Quarter Of 2026
Money and Business Economy News – Baghdad Exports from the Amman Chamber of Commerce in Jordan grew by 30.9% during the first quarter of this year, with Iraq topping the list of importing countries, according to statistics published on Wednesday.
The Chamber stated, in a report seen by “Al-Eqtisad News”, that the value of certificates of origin issued for exporting goods to Arab and foreign countries amounted to 406 million dinars, compared to 310 million dinars for the same period in 2025.
The data showed that Iraq topped the list of importing countries with a value of 156 million dinars, reflecting the importance of the Iraqi market for Jordanian exports and the continued strength of trade relations between the two countries.
Exports were distributed among a number of countries, most notably Switzerland with a value of 92 million dinars, Egypt with about 23 million dinars, Syria with about 21 million dinars, in addition to the United Arab Emirates with a similar value.
According to statistics, the number of certificates of origin issued during the first quarter reached 6,830 certificates, compared to 7,263 certificates for the same period last year, while exports varied between foreign goods that were re-exported, industrial and agricultural products, and others of Arab origin. https://www.economy-news.net/content.php?id=67935
Airlines Will Resume Flights To Dubai Tomorrow And To Sabiha Gökçen Airport In Turkey On Saturday.
Money and Business Economy News – Baghdad The Ministry of Transport announced on Wednesday that the airline will resume its flights to Dubai on Thursday, while noting that flights to Sabiha Gökçen Airport in Turkey will resume on Saturday.
The Ministry's spokesman, Maitham Al-Safi, told the Iraqi News Agency, as reported by "Al-Eqtisad News": "Iraqi airspace is witnessing a gradual return of flights, with work continuing to increase the pace of operations progressively to reach normal levels."
He added that “Iraqi Airways has been operating flights to Istanbul, Amman and Cairo since last Friday, April 10, followed by flights to India,” noting that “the airline will operate flights to Guangzhou, and tomorrow, Thursday, April 15, to Dubai, in addition to resuming domestic flights, with a gradual operation that includes the airports of Baghdad, Erbil, Sulaymaniyah and Basra, with plans to increase them gradually during the coming period.”
He noted that "some regional and international airlines have begun resuming their flights to Iraq, including Royal Jordanian, Damascus Airlines, Felix Airways, Mahan Air, Aseman Airlines, and Flydubai."
The ministry stated in a statement received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA) that “airline flights between Baghdad and Sabiha will return to the skies, starting from next Saturday, April 18, as part of a plan to expand its network of destinations and facilitate travel for passengers.” https://www.economy-news.net/content.php?id=67936
The Ministry Of Trade Announces Its Full Readiness For The Start Of The Wheat Marketing Season.
Money and Business Economy News – Baghdad The Ministry of Trade announced on Wednesday its full readiness for the start of the 2026 wheat marketing season.
Ministry spokesman Mohammed Hanoun said in a statement received by “Al-Eqtisad News” that “all the ministry’s technical, administrative and logistical preparations have been completed for the launch of the local wheat marketing season for 2026,” indicating that “the ministry’s plan this year aims to achieve high efficiency in receiving operations and enhance food security in the country.”
He added that "preparations came early through a series of intensive meetings of the Central Marketing Committee, during which an integrated plan was developed to organize the marketing of the crop, in order to reduce the congestion at the receiving sites and facilitate the procedures for delivering wheat by farmers and marketers."
Hannon explained that "the ministry has adopted a pre-booking mechanism to regulate the entry of trucks into silos and warehouses, which will contribute to reducing waiting times and achieving greater smoothness in marketing operations, in addition to preparing flexible timetables for distributing quantities to receiving centers in various governorates."
He pointed out that "the technical and engineering teams have completed the maintenance and rehabilitation work of the silos and raised their readiness to receive the expected quantities of local production, in parallel with enhancing storage capacity and improving the efficiency of storage and transportation operations."
He explained that "the ministry is working in close coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture to align the marketing plan with the agricultural plan in order to ensure the absorption of the expected production without bottlenecks, as well as supporting farmers by simplifying procedures and accelerating the receiving processes."
Hannon stressed that "these measures come within the framework of the government's endeavor to support local products and achieve self-sufficiency in wheat," emphasizing that "the ministry is proceeding with the implementation of its plans to enhance the strategic reserve and secure the items of the ration card." https://www.economy-news.net/content.php?id=67932
An Iranian Oil Tanker Defies Sanctions And Crosses The Strait Of Hormuz Unhindered.
Arabic and international Economy News - Follow-up Iranian state media revealed on Wednesday that a giant Iranian oil tanker listed on US sanctions lists had openly entered Iranian territorial waters without any harassment.
Fars News Agency quoted maritime sources as saying that "the tanker continued its journey through the open sea and the Strait of Hormuz, with its Automatic Identification System (AIS) remaining operational, contrary to what ships under sanctions usually do."
According to data from the "TankerTrackers" website, "The (VLCC) class tanker, which is subject to sanctions by the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), managed to reach its destination within Iranian waters without any recorded interference or harassment."
This tanker is among the largest oil tankers in the world, with a capacity of approximately two million barrels of crude oil.
Earlier today, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander Brad Cooper confirmed in a statement that the naval blockade of Iranian ports had been fully implemented, with U.S. forces maintaining naval superiority in the Middle East.
US President Donald Trump announced on Sunday a blockade of Iranian ports, after a round of negotiations between the two sides in Islamabad on Saturday failed. https://www.economy-news.net/content.php?id=67934
The Dollar Is Declining In Baghdad
Stock Exchange Economy News – Baghdad The exchange rate of the US dollar declined this morning, Wednesday, in the markets of the capital, Baghdad.
The dollar exchange rate witnessed a decrease in the Al-Kifah and Al-Harithiya exchanges in Baghdad, recording 153,400 Iraqi dinars for every 100 dollars, compared to 153,700 Iraqi dinars recorded yesterday, Tuesday.
Selling prices in exchange shops in the local markets of Baghdad recorded a decrease, with the selling price reaching 154,000 dinars for 100 dollars, while the buying price recorded 153,000 dinars for 100 dollars.