Iraq Launches New Overland Oil Export Route via Syria to Boost Revenues

SANA

A convoy of tanker trucks carrying Iraqi oil crossing from Iraq’s western province of Anbar into Syria.

Iraq has officially launched a new phase of crude oil exports via land routes and tanker shipments through the Rabia border crossing into Syria, as part of efforts to diversify export channels and strengthen economic resilience.

The Director General of the Iraqi Customs Authority, Thamer Qasim Daoud, said the decision is expected to increase national revenue by activating border crossings and enhancing trade flows.

He noted that the move would help ease pressure on maritime export terminals while contributing to the development of logistics infrastructure. “This step will not only reduce the burden on seaports, but also support the expansion of logistical capabilities and boost state revenues,” he said.

The initiative forms part of a broader government strategy aimed at expanding export and the policy shift reflects a move away from a single-channel export model towards a more diversified approach designed to strengthen Iraq’s energy security.

The Rabia border crossing between Iraq and Syria reopened to trade and passenger traffic on 22 April after 13 years of closure, which had been driven by security challenges during the fight against Islamic State (ISIS), as well as shifting control and coordination issues along the frontier.

In recent months, Iraqi and Syrian authorities have worked to rehabilitate several key crossings, including Al-Waleed border crossing and Rabia border crossing, in an effort to restore trade routes and facilitate the movement of goods and passengers between the two countries.



PUKMEDIA