Tag Archives | State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO)

SOMO, Litasco to Trade Oil from Dubai

By John Lee. Iraq's State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) and Russia's Litasco — Lukoil‘s international marketing and trading arm — have set up a joint oil trading company in Dubai. A source told Reuters that the new venture, LIMA Energy, is building a team to work at the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) to trade […]

Lukoil in Iraq Oil Trading Deal

By John Lee. Iraq's State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) and Russia's Lukoil have formed a joint venture to market crude oil. In a statement, the Iraqi Oil Ministry said Litasco -- Lukoil‘s international marketing and trading arm -- would help sell Iraqi crude and train Iraqi staff in marketing. (Source: Ministry of Oil)

Iraq oil Output Falls on OPEC Cuts

By John Lee. The Director of the State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO), Falah al-Amiri, has told reporters that crude oil exports so far in March average 3.756 million bpd, including 515,000 bpd exported by Iraqi Kurdistan. According to Reuters, Iraq's oil production is down by more than 300,000 bpd, to 4.464 million (bpd), due to OPEC […]

The Truth behind Oil Theft in Basra

By Salam Zidane for Al Monitor. Any opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. On Jan. 15, Iraqi members of parliament, including Sadeq al-Mhanna from the ruling National Alliance, revealed that they are in possession of documents that prove the theft of 300,000 barrels […]

IMF Reviews Progress in Iraq

The Iraqi authorities and the staff of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) held discussions in Baku, Azerbaijan from January 15–19, 2017 ahead of the second review of Iraq’s 36-month Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) that the IMF Executive Board approved on July 7, 2016 ( See Press Release No. 16/321). The first review under the SBA was […]

Iraq Resists Joining OPEC Production Cut

By John Lee. Reuters reports that oil prices came under pressure on Monday as Iraqi oil minister Jabar Ali al-Luaibi [Allibi] said Baghdad wants to be exempt from any production cut the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is aiming to achieve. Falah al-Amiri, head of the State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) added that […]

Iraq to cut Basra Oil Exports in November

By John Lee. Reuters reports that Iraq plans to cut crude oil exports from its southern ports to 3.24 million bpd in November, down from the 3.28 million bpd planned for this month. According to data from a preliminary loading programme of the State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO), exports of Basra Light grade are expected […]

Iraq Oil Export Rate Up Again in Sept

By John Lee. The daily average volume of crude oil exported by Iraq's State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) rose to 3.276 million barrels per day in September, compared with 3.230 million bpd in August, according to the Ministry of Oil. The total for the 30-day month was 98,285,239 barrels, down from the 100.1 million barrels exported […]

Aug Oil Output Revised Down, Still at Record Levels

By John Lee. Iraq's oil production in August has been revised down from 4.638 million bpd to 4.622 million bpd, according to a report from Platts. The latest estimate is still a 16,000 bpd increase from July, and is the fourth time Iraq has passed the 4.5 million bpd threshold. The State Oil Marketing Organization […]

Oil Minister meets head of Exxon Mobil Iraq

By John Lee. Iraqi oil minister, Jabbar al-Luaibi (Allibi), met with the head of Exxon Mobil Iraq, Paul Thiss, in his office on Wednesday to discuss cooperation and investment in the Iraqi energy sector. The Minister said Iraq is about to enter a new age of development of its oil and gas industry and is […]

Iraq, Kurdistan "Jointly Exporting Kirkuk Oil"

By John Lee. Trading sources have told Reuters that Baghdad's State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) and Kurdistan have resumed joint exports of crude oil from the giant Kirkuk oil field. The field normally delivers 150,000 barrels per day via the Turkish port of Ceyhan (pictured). Exports have been suspended since March in a dispute over […]