Iraq says oil exports through Strait of Hormuz drop to 10 million barrels in April

Iraq’s newly appointed oil minister, Basim Mohammed (also reported as Bassem Mohammed Khudair), says the country exports about 10 million barrels of crude through the Strait of Hormuz in April. The minister describes this as a sharp decline from Iraq’s earlier export level, which he says was around 93 million barrels per month through the strait. Both reports tie the decrease to the ongoing regional conflict involving Iran, stating that Iran blockades the strait and leaves exporters in the area scrambling for alternative routes. Iraq, a founding member of OPEC, typically sends most of its crude through the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping passage for oil supplies. While the sources provide the April export figure and the comparison with the earlier monthly volume, they do not specify which alternative routes Iraq uses or whether the reduced exports reflect temporary rerouting, longer delivery times, or changes in production and sales. The accounts therefore focus on the scale of the drop and the impact of the blockade on Iraq’s ability to export via the strait.