Iraq sends fuel oil to Europe via Syria

Iraq is increasingly relying on a land route through Syria to export fuel oil to Europe, a significant shift driven by disruptions to traditional maritime transport. Syria's state oil company revealed that the number of tankers involved in this export route has surged dramatically, from an initial ten to 1,000 per day.

This overland journey is becoming a crucial alternative for countries seeking to supply oil and petroleum products to the global market, especially those with access to the Persian Gulf. Several existing and planned pipelines connect the region to the Red Sea and Mediterranean, but the land route via Syria offers another vital transit corridor.

Iraq's economy is heavily dependent on oil exports, which normally account for over 90% of government revenue. The land route, while more expensive and logistically complex than sea transport, is gaining prominence. Syria, along with Turkey, has become an important hub for energy transit, facilitating the flow of Iraqi oil to international markets.

Ahmed Qubbaji, deputy chairman of Syria's state oil company, emphasized Syria's role as a key transit corridor for energy supplies from Gulf states and Iraq to global markets. This development occurs against the backdrop of Syria's long civil war, which officially concluded in December 2024 with the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad.