The Shadow Economy in Numbers: Tons of Gold Worth Billions of Dollars to Make Up for the "Black Dollar" Shortage

Baghdad Today – Baghdad  In a volatile economic landscape dominated by weak oversight and a fluctuating local currency, gold in Iraq has transformed from a traditional commodity into a central financial instrument, simultaneously reflecting internal crises and external conflicts.

 Figures announced for the first half of 2025 revealed imports exceeding $30 billion from five major countries, led by the UAE with $10.5 billion, followed by China with $8.8 billion, Turkey with $4.9 billion, the European Union with $3 billion, and India with $1.8 billion. Among these imports, precious metals—led by gold—were valued at $3.3 billion, confirming that this sector now occupies an exceptional position in the structure of Iraqi trade.

The Iraqi Dinar's Journey Through Five Turbulent Years

From Kadhimi's devaluation to Al-Sudani's platform: The Iraqi Dinar's Journey Through Five Turbulent Years

Baghdad Today – Baghdad  Since the end of 2020, when Mustafa al-Kadhimi's government decided to raise the official exchange rate from 1,180 to 1,450 dinars to the dollar, Iraq has been on a volatile economic trajectory that continues to this day. This decision, taken at the height of the oil price collapse, temporarily saved the general budget but opened the door to a wave of inflation that undermined the dinar's long-standing stability.

PICWith the arrival of Mohammed Shia al-Sudani's government, the Central Bank took a corrective step in early 2023, reducing the rate to 1,320, in an attempt to alleviate popular pressure. However, the crisis later deepened with the introduction of an electronic platform that linked transfer transactions to direct oversight by the US Federal Reserve.

SOMO: We Are Moving To Add New Crude Oils, And Our Exports Exceed 40 Countries

Economy | 09:06 - 09/15/2025   Mawazine News - Baghdad -  Ali Nizar Al-Shatri, Chairman of the company, revealed efforts to diversify export markets for Iraqi crude oil, in addition to increasing investments in liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) infrastructure. He confirmed SOMO's move to add more new crude oils in the coming period.

Al-Shatri said, according to the Energy Platform, that "Asian markets have the highest growth in energy demand; therefore, Iraq is keen to meet this demand and strengthen its presence there. However, at the same time, we are keen to maintain a balanced export to other markets in a way that serves Iraq's strategic interest."