Iraq announces a broad plan to export oil through the port of Banias
Iraq's oil ministry has announced the launch of what it described as the "broadest" plan for the export of black oil, in a move that reflects the redrawing of Iraq's export map in light of regional turmoil and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
The ministry's spokesman, Sahib Bazoun, confirmed in a statement to "Waa" news agency on Friday, May 8, 2026, that Iraq has already started exporting black oil through the Syrian port of Baniyas using basin vehicles, noting that the ministry has set precise timetables for the implementation of the plan according to the new operational data.
The plan relies on refineries that operate on the mechanism of "physical cracking" of black oil, a technique that aims to produce high-value oil derivatives, including the globally demanded high-octane gasoline, he said.
The Iraqi official said the move is part of a broader vision to open new export outlets, ensuring the flow of financial liquidity and offsetting the sharp decline in oil revenues.
Iraqi delegation discusses restarting Iraqi-Syrian oil pipeline
In a related context, a delegation from the Iraqi Ministry of Oil, headed by the Director General of the North Oil Company, Amer Khalil Ahmed, visited the Iraqi embassy in Damascus, where they met with the Chargé d'Affaires to discuss the prospects of cooperation with the Syrian side, especially the restart of the Iraqi-Syrian oil pipeline.
The Oil Ministry's Information and Government Communications Office confirmed that the visit comes as part of efforts to "revive the historic routes" of transporting oil through Syria to the Mediterranean Sea. It can be expanded across regional power lines.
During the meeting, they discussed the procedures for opening an Iraqi shipping office at the port of Baniyas, with the aim of boosting export operations and expanding marketing outlets, as part of a comprehensive Iraqi plan to develop transport and export infrastructure.
Diversion of Supplies to Yarubiya
On the Syrian side, the Syrian Petroleum Company had previously announced, on Saturday, May 2, 2026, an increase in the operational capacity of the unloading of Iraqi oil tankers at the Banias refinery by 30%, in conjunction with the diversion of the entry route of supplies to the Rabia-Al-Yaroubiya port instead of the Al-Tanf crossing.
According to official data, the number of unloaded tankers per day increased from 300 to about 500 tanks, equivalent to 120,000 barrels per day, after the operation of new unloading yards and the implementation of engineering and logistical works that improved direct pumping routes to the tanks.
Syrian Petroleum confirmed that this step comes "within the framework of enhancing work readiness and accelerating the pace of supply", noting that the improvement of the unloading routes saved about 40 hours of work per day, which reflected positively on the continuity of supply to the market.
She explained that the diversion of shipments to the Yarubiya crossing through the M4 road is a logistical measure aimed at shortening the distance and time, without any change in the contracts or the nature of the agreed materials.She stressed thatthe main goal is to ensure that supplies arrive quickly and efficiently, in light of the increasing pressure on the energy sector.
Last April, Iraq began exporting crude oil through Syrian territory through the Al-Waleed port, where the shipments are unloaded into the tanks of the Banias refinery before being transported to the Banias oil spillway and loaded onto the marine tankers designated for export.
Banias... A New Iraqi Window to the Mediterranean
Baghdad is currently expanding crude oil export ports through the Mediterranean port of Baniyas, becoming a major gateway to European and American markets, as the Strait of Hormuz continues to be closed due to the US-Israeli war against Iran.
The shutdown led to an 80% drop in Iraqi oil exports in March, and a drop in production from more than four million barrels per day to only about 1.1 million barrels, causing oil revenues to drop by about 70%.
In the face of this collapse, the Iraqi government moved within a contingency plan that included the reactivation of the Kirkuk-Ceyhan line, the activation of temporary land transport with Syria, and regional coordination to open alternative ports to ensure the continuation of minimal oil flows.
Recent developments reveal that Iraq is moving toward redrawing its export routes away from traditional choke points, that Syria—specifically the port of Baniyas—is returning to play a pivotal role in the regional energy equation, and while Damascus benefits from the flow of tankers and logistical investments, Iraq is seeking to secure a stable outlet to the Mediterranean, at a highly complex geopolitical moment.