Iraq to Export Crude Oil via Syria by Truck
Iraq is establishing an alternative crude oil export route through Syria to the Mediterranean to bypass risks associated with the Strait of Hormuz.
The Government of Iraq is preparing to transport crude oil by truck through Syria to the Mediterranean coast to establish an alternative export route. This strategic move aims to bypass the maritime risks associated with the Strait of Hormuz.
According to Yousef Qiblawy, CEO of the Syrian Petroleum Company, the first crude shipments are expected to reach Syria by mid-October. The Syrian Petroleum Company will provide storage tanks at the port of Baniyas to facilitate loading onto vessels. This arrangement expands an existing corridor where 1,000 to 1,200 trucks daily transport Iraqi fuel oil through Syria. Additionally, Syria began transporting imported gasoline to Iraq in late September.
For long-term capacity, both nations are pursuing the rehabilitation of the Haditha-Baniyas pipeline. While not yet operational, the pipeline targets a capacity of up to 2 million barrels per day.
