Iraq ranks 9th among U.S. crude suppliers at 38,000 BPD
The Iraqi and US flags outside a hotel in the Iraqi capital Baghdad on September 27, 2020. Photo: AFP
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) — Iraq ranked as the ninth-largest crude oil supplier to the United States last week, delivering an average of 38,000 barrels per day (bpd), according to weekly import data released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) on Sunday, September 6, 2026.
The figure marks a rebound in maritime shipments bound for American refiners, rebounding from the previous weekly reporting period where U.S. customs tracked zero crude imports originating from Iraqi export terminals.
Canada maintained its dominant position as the primary foreign supplier to the U.S. refining complex, delivering 4.011 million bpd—dwarfing all regional and overseas competitors combined:
- Americas Pipeline and Heavy Crude Dominance: Behind Canada, Venezuela ranked second at 598,000 bpd, followed by Mexico in fourth place (210,000 bpd), Brazil (137,000 bpd), Colombia (111,000 bpd), and Ecuador (101,000 bpd).
- Middle Eastern Suppliers:Saudi Arabia led regional Middle East exporters to the U.S., ranking third globally at 379,000 bpd. Iraq followed in ninth position at 38,000 bpd.
- African Seaborne Crudes:Nigeria secured eighth position with 71,000 bpd, while Libya rounded out the top ten suppliers at 1,000 bpd.
Top 10 Crude Oil Suppliers to the U.S. (Weekly Average)
| Rank | Country | Average Volume (bpd) | Primary Supply Characteristic |
| 1 | Canada | 4,011,000 | Cross-border heavy pipeline blend |
| 2 | Venezuela | 598,000 | Heavy sour maritime shipments |
| 3 | Saudi Arabia | 379,000 | Long-haul Gulf sour crude |
| 4 | Mexico | 210,000 | Short-haul Maya/medium grades |
| 5 | Brazil | 137,000 | Medium sweet offshore grades |
| 6 | Colombia | 111,000 | Heavy/medium export blend |
| 7 | Ecuador | 101,000 | Pacific-origin Oriente/Napo crude |
| 8 | Nigeria | 71,000 | Light sweet Atlantic basin crude |
| 9 | Iraq | 38,000 | Basra Medium / Heavy seaborne cargoes |
| 10 | Libya | 1,000 | Spot Mediterranean light crude |
Market Dynamics: Volatility in Iraqi Shipments to U.S. Gulf Coast
The weekly shipment variation reflects the spot nature of Iraqi crude sales to the North American market:
- Shifting Trade Corridors: State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) allocations prioritize higher-netback destinations across Asia (notably India and China), which absorb over 70% of Iraqi seaborne volumes.
- Refinery Runs on U.S. Gulf Coast: U.S. imports of Iraqi crude—primarily Basra Medium and Heavy grades—are typically absorbed on a periodic basis by complex Gulf Coast refining setups configured to process high-sulfur sour barrels when local heavy grades or Western Canadian Select (WCS) face transit limits.