Iraq Struggles To Keep Oil Exports Elevated

Since the Kurdish referendum in late September, when Iraqi
Kurds overwhelmingly voted for independence from Iraq, there has
been a drop in crude flows through the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline, as
tension has ratcheted up in the region. After exports from Ceyhan
averaged 540,000 bpd through the first nine months of the year,
loadings of Kirkuk crude dropped to 430,000 bpd in October, and are
lower once again in November, after Iraqi government
forces reclaimed Kurdish oil fields last month.  The
Iraqi oil minister, Jabar al-Luaibi,…

Since the Kurdish referendum in late September, when Iraqi
Kurds overwhelmingly voted for independence from Iraq, there has
been a drop in crude flows through the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline, as
tension has ratcheted up in the region. After exports from Ceyhan
averaged 540,000 bpd through the first nine months of the year,
loadings of Kirkuk crude dropped to 430,000 bpd in October, and are
lower once again in November, after Iraqi government
forces reclaimed Kurdish oil fields last month.  The
Iraqi oil minister, Jabar al-Luaibi,…