Tag Archives | SOMO

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China to Stop Increasing Iraq Oil Orders

By John Lee. Chinese oil companies are to maintain their purchasing of crude oil from Iraq's State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) at the 2014 level for next year, according to a report from Reuters. The decision has been attributed to a slowing of demand growth in China, the varying quality of Iraq's "Basra Light" crude, […]

SOMO Denies OPEC Price War

By John Lee. The State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) has denied that it is waging a price war against other oil producers. The company recently slashed price to its Asian customers due to what it described as "changes in the market" but has denied that this was an attempt to undercut other members of the […]

Bigger Discount for Heavy Basra Crude

By John Lee. Iraq is reported to be giving bigger discounts for heavy crude from Basra from January. The State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) recently abandoned plans to split its "Basra Light" grade into two grades, light and heavy. Reuters says this latest move is aimed at pacifying buyers who have had to deal with […]

Abdul-Mahdi: Now the Real Work Begins

By Cengiz Çandar for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Adel Abdul-Mahdi, Iraq’s former vice president and current oil minister in Haider al-Abadi's government, spotted me aboard a flight from Beirut to Istanbul. He was in a rush, on his way back […]

Baghdad, Erbil Reach Deal on Oil Exports

By John Lee. Baghdad and Erbil have reached an agreement resolving the long-running dispute over oil exports and budget payments. Finance Minister Hoshyar Zebari said that 550,000 barrels per day (bpd) of oil would be sent to the Iraqi oil ministry. In return, the Kurds will receive their 17% share of the national budget. The […]

Plans for 2 Crude Export Grades Shelved

By John Lee. Iraq’s State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) has reportedly abandoned plans to sell two grades of crude oil from its southern Gulf terminals next year. Platts reports that SOMO informed customers last week that "due to logistical issues" a single type of crude will continue to be marketed in 2015, but with two […]

Future Uncertain for Baghdad-Erbil Oil Deal

By Mohammed A. Salih for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. While a recent deal between Baghdad and Erbil to export oil from the northern fields is seen by many as a breakthrough after years of stalemate, the prospect of further progress […]

Italy's Eni to Buy Kirkuk Crude

By John Lee. Platts reports that Italy's Eni has provisionally booked a tanker to load an 80,000 mt cargo of Iraqi crude from the Turkish port of Ceyhan. Market sources said that the cargo is Kirkuk crude, and would be the first such cargo from the port since Baghdad and Erbil agreed to sell 150,000 […]

Turkish Refiner to Buy Kurdish Crude via SOMO

By John Lee. Turkish refiner Tupras is to buy crude oil from Iraq Kurdistan sold by the Baghdad's State Oil Marketing Organisation (SOMO). The company's Deputy General Manager, Hasan Tan, told reporters the oil will be sent by pipeline to the Turkish Mediterranean port town of Ceyhan. The announcement comes a week after Baghdad and […]

Iraq Reviews Oil Prices

By John Lee. Iraq’s State Oil Marketing Organisation (SOMO) has adjusted its official selling prices for its Basra Light and Kirkuk crude grades for December. In common with some other countries, Iraq’s oil is priced relative to regional benchmark prices: For shipments to US, contracts are priced are relative to the Argus Sour Crude Index […]

PM Barzani "Will Not hand Control to SOMO"

Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani and Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani talked to the press following yesterday’s Parliament session hosting the Kurdistan Region Oil and Gas Council. Prime Minister Barzani said the Region would not hand oil control to the Iraqi State Oil Marketing Organisation, SOMO. He noted the federal government cannot export oil […]

No SOMO Office for Erbil

By John Lee. Nechirvan Barzani (pictured), Iraqi Kurdistan's Prime Minister, has denied reports that Iraq’s State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) will open an office in Erbil. Kurdish MP, Dilshad Sha’ban, has also told BasNews: “After we heard reports of SOMO wants to open office in Kurdistan region, we followed on the report, and we found […]