Iraq Oil Exports Stand at 3.4 Mln bpd in Sep

Iraqi flag in front of an oil field. (AFP)
Iraqi flag in front of an oil field. (AFP)
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Iraq Oil Exports Stand at 3.4 Mln bpd in Sep

Iraqi flag in front of an oil field. (AFP)
Iraqi flag in front of an oil field. (AFP)

Iraq exported 103,143,199 million barrels of crude oil in September, generating 9.5 billion US dollars in revenue, the country's Oil Ministry announced on Sunday.

The average price of Iraqi crude oil in Sep. was 92.05 dollars per barrel, the ministry said in a statement, citing statistics from the State Organization for Marketing of Oil (SOMO), an Iraqi company.

The average of exported quantities stood at 3,438,000 bpd in September.

The crude oil barrels were exported from oil fields in central and southern Iraq to neighboring Jordan during the month.

Iraqi oil exports from Kirkuk and the Kurdistan region through the Kirkuk–Ceyhan Oil Pipeline remained suspended since the end of March upon a decision by the Turkish authority after an international court decided that SOMO is the only entity authorized to manage export operations through the Turkish port of Ceyhan.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani stressed Sunday the necessity of completing expansion and maintenance projects for Iraqi oil ports.

During a meeting to follow up on projects and plans for developing the oil sector, Sudani stressed the importance of completing gas projects and expanding investment in Iraqi fields producing natural gas, for the purpose of supplying power stations and national fertilizer-producing factories with their gas needs.

The Iraqi PM further underscored the necessity of completing the refinery projects as quickly as possible, in order to reach self-sufficiency in oil derivatives and fuel.

Iraq’s Oil Ministry announced last week the increase in production capacity at the Karbala refinery to 140,000 bpd.



Gold Prices Hold Steady as Investors Await US Fed Policy Cues

A participant shows gold bars during the 21st edition of the international gold and jewelry exhibition at the Kuwait International Fairgrounds in Kuwait City on May 23, 2024. (Photo by Yasser AL ZAYYAT / AFP)
A participant shows gold bars during the 21st edition of the international gold and jewelry exhibition at the Kuwait International Fairgrounds in Kuwait City on May 23, 2024. (Photo by Yasser AL ZAYYAT / AFP)
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Gold Prices Hold Steady as Investors Await US Fed Policy Cues

A participant shows gold bars during the 21st edition of the international gold and jewelry exhibition at the Kuwait International Fairgrounds in Kuwait City on May 23, 2024. (Photo by Yasser AL ZAYYAT / AFP)
A participant shows gold bars during the 21st edition of the international gold and jewelry exhibition at the Kuwait International Fairgrounds in Kuwait City on May 23, 2024. (Photo by Yasser AL ZAYYAT / AFP)

Gold prices remained steady on Wednesday, as investors awaited the US Federal Reserve's decision on interest rates due later in the day, while also focusing on US President Donald Trump's trade policies following his tariff threats.

Spot gold eased 0.2% to $2,758.49 per ounce by 09:55 a.m. ET (1455 GMT), while US gold futures rose 0.3% to $2,775.60, widening the premium over spot gold rates.

The Fed is scheduled to release its latest policy decision and statement at 2 p.m. EST (1900 GMT), with Fed Chair Jerome Powell due to hold a press conference half an hour later to elaborate on the meeting.

The US central bank is widely expected to hold interest rates steady as it awaits further inflation and jobs data and more clarity on the economic impact of Trump's policies before deciding whether to cut borrowing costs again.

"However, the Fed's commentary in regards to the potential for an interest rate cut in the March meeting is going to be in focus," said David Meger, director of metals trading at High Ridge Futures.

Gold prices neared all-time highs last week after Trump called for lower interest rates. Bullion tends to thrive in a low-interest-rate environment as it yields no interest.

Prices, however, retreated sharply on Monday as a sell-off in technology stocks, driven by Chinese AI model DeepSeek, sparked a rush to liquidate bullion to counter losses, according to Reuters.

The sell-off in the stock market seen on Monday may not be over and the unpredictability of Trump's policies is contributing to an increased demand for gold as a safe-haven, said Jim Wyckoff, a senior market analyst at Kitco Metals.

Trump still plans to make good on his promise to issue tariffs on Canada and Mexico, and his policies are widely seen as inflationary.

Elsewhere, spot silver gained 1.7% to $30.92 per ounce, platinum also added 0.5% to $946.45. Palladium was up 0.8% to $962.50.