Iraq Seeks Massive Oil Output Quota Hike Amid Capacity Audit

Iraq is seeking to significantly increase its oil production quota as part of an ongoing OPEC+ capacity audit. The country has formally requested that its baseline be raised to 6 million barrels per day, a jump of approximately 1.57 million bpd over its current quota of around 4.431 million bpd.

The request was made on September 9, 2026, and is being considered at a delicate time. An independent consultant is conducting the capacity review, which is expected to wrap up by the end of this month, with formal ministerial ratification of new quotas anticipated in November.

Iraq's ask is bold, given that the International Energy Agency pegs its sustainable oil production capacity at around 4.9 million bpd. This leaves a gap of more than 1 million barrels per day between what the IEA thinks Iraq can reliably produce and what Baghdad says its baseline should be.

The disconnect gets even wider when you look at actual output. In August 2026, Iraq's production ranged between 2.98 and 3.37 million bpd, weighed down by previous disruptions.