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Iraq's fuel oil exports head for record year after Oct volumes leap

Iraq's fuel oil exports are on track to strike alltime highs this year after the country increase shipments in October, as domestic demand reduced while output rose, according to industry sources and shiptracking information.

The increase in exports of the residue fuel will support oil earnings for the Company of the Petroleum Exporting Countries' (OPEC's) second-largest producer despite stagnant crude deliveries this year, due to production caps under quotas set by OPEC and its allies, or OPEC+.

Higher exports from Iraq will likewise contribute to international supply and ease elevated costs in Asia while lowering feedstock expenses at refineries.

Exports are set to breach 18 million metric loads (380,000. barrels each day) in 2024, a record-high annual volume that. surpasses last year's record of more than 14 million tons,. according to computations based on data from Kpler and LSEG.

Iraq state refiner SOMO did not instantly respond to a. request for remark.

Iraq's fuel oil is generally high-sulphur and straight-run,. which can be processed in refineries into higher-value items. such as diesel. Most of Iraq's fuel oil freights have actually landed in. Singapore and India.

Iraq's fuel oil exports exceeded 2.15 million metric heaps in. October, the greatest monthly volume on record, based upon Kpler. and LSEG information.

This was paired with a seasonal decline in domestic need. of about 100,000 barrels each day from the previous month, said. Palash Jain, Middle East oil market specialist at FGE.

Given reduced domestic demand and greater HSFO (high-sulfur. fuel oil) cracks, increasing fuel oil exports in October was. economically beneficial for Iraq, he said.

The refining margin, or crack, in Asia for producing 380-cst. high sulphur fuel oil reached discount rates of. almost $2 a barrel at the end of October, the narrowest in more. than two years, LSEG information showed.

Discount rates broadened to more than $5.50 a heap today as more. supply replenishment from various regions, including the Middle. East and the West, was expected, traders said.

Production at Iraq's Karbala refinery, which has a capacity. of 140,000 barrels daily, likewise buoyed exports, market. sources stated.

Iraqi fuel oil exports are easily heading for a record. this year following increased domestic production from the. reopening of Karbala refinery, stated Roslan Khasawneh, senior. oil expert at Kpler.

A Middle East refining source included that Iraqi exports going. forward would also depend upon whether the Karbala refinery runs. its secondary units at complete rates.

Iraq has actually been curbing unrefined exports to compensate for. overproduction under OPEC+ quotas, processing more unrefined into. products at its refineries, said LSEG Oil Research study.

We believe that in order to stay compliant due to its. crude over-production, Iraq has actually upped its items output, stated. Emril Jamil, a senior oil expert at LSEG.

He anticipates Iraqi fuel oil exports to remain above 2 million. loads in November, while FGE's Jain stated volumes may taper off. from October highs in the next number of months when Iraq begins. winter season stockpiling to satisfy heating demand.

(source: Reuters)