Iraqi Dinar Hits Steady Premium Against US Dollar in Baghdad, Erbil, Basra Bourses

The parallel market exchange rate for the US dollar against the Iraqi dinar has held steady in major Iraqi bourses. The rates range from 152,750 to 153,250 IQD per $100 across Baghdad, Erbil, and Basra.

This premium over the Central Bank of Iraq's (CBI) official exchange rate, which remains pegged at 131,000 IQD per $100, reflects sustained demand for physical cash dollars in parallel merchant trading and regional cross-border commerce.

Local exchange counters in these cities maintain a market premium driven by liquidity distribution and cash-market trading volumes. The spread between the official and parallel markets ranges from 16% to 17%.