US Crude Oil Imports from Iraq Plummet to Zero

The United States has seen a significant drop in crude oil imports from Iraq to zero barrels per day (bpd), according to official data released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) on August 30, 2026.

This marks a decrease from an average of 6,000 bpd recorded the previous week and follows a summer lull where direct crude shipments from Iraq to US refiners remained largely suspended.

The EIA data shows that Canada maintained its dominant position as the primary foreign crude supplier to American refineries, while Latin American and West African exporters filled the bulk of remaining import volume. Other countries such as Venezuela, Brazil, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Colombia, Libya, Nigeria, Ecuador, Algeria, Angola, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Kuwait, Norway, Russia, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United Kingdom also saw zero imports during this reporting week.

The drop in Iraqi crude oil imports to the US is attributed to shifting market dynamics. The State Organization for Marketing of Oil (SOMO) directs a significant portion of Basrah Medium and Heavy grades to contracted refiners in India and China, while US Gulf Coast refiners prioritize nearby heavy and medium crudes from Canada, Venezuela, Brazil, and Mexico due to elevated maritime shipping rates and fluctuating Gulf routing.