BASRA: Oil exports from Iraq’s southern ports rose to an average of 3.5 million barrels per day (bpd) in November from 3.35 million bpd in October, Basra Oil Company Director General Ihsan Abdul Jabbar told Reuters on Friday.
Southern exports are on the rise as Iraq looks to offset the halting of exports from its Kirkuk oilfields in the north in mid-October after Baghdad government forces dislodged Kurdish Peshmerga fighters from the area.
A southern export figure of 3.9 million bpd released by the oil ministry on Thursday, the highest ever, referred just to output on Nov. 29, Abdul Jabbar said.
“The November average was 3.5 million bpd,” he said.
The Iraqi government’s November revenues from oil exports were over $6 billion, an oil ministry spokesman later said in a statement, with a total of over 105 million barrels sold.
The average price per barrel sold was $57.194, the spokesman said.
Southern exports are shipped by state-owned Basra Oil and sold by state oil marketer SOMO on behalf of the central government.
SOMO is also in charge of selling crude from Kirkuk but there were no exports from there in October or November, the oil ministry said.
The Kurdistan Regional Government in northern Iraq sells crude from its own fields through a pipeline to the Turkish Mediterranean port of Ceyhan.
Iraq is OPEC’s second-largest producer after Saudi Arabia with an output capacity of 4.8 million bpd which Baghdad aims to increase to 5 million bpd.
Actual production is less than 4.5 million bpd in line with an agreement among oil exporting nations to curb output in order to support crude prices and reduce global oil inventories.
Iraq's November oil exports from south increase
Iraq's November oil exports from south increase
Arab Energy Fund takes minority stake in Saudi energy firm APSCO
RIYADH: The Arab Energy Fund has acquired a minority stake in Saudi Arabia’s Arabian Petroleum Supply Co., backing one of the Kingdom’s largest private energy solutions providers as it looks to expand across the Middle East and beyond.
The investment initiates a partnership aimed at pursuing opportunities across the Middle East, North Africa, and select international markets, covering APSCO’s core and adjacent business sectors.
The move underscores TAEF’s commitment to investing in established regional leaders while promoting innovation and sustainable growth across the energy value chain.
According to a press release, the transaction marks The Arab Energy Fund’s first investment of 2026, following an active 2025 during which the fund completed several key deals, including investments in Jafurah Midstream Gas Co. alongside BlackRock and in the platform Tagaddod.
Khalid Al-Ruwaigh, CEO of The Arab Energy Fund, commented on the deal, saying: “APSCO represents a unique platform with strong fundamentals and a proven track record in critical energy segments.”
He added: “This investment aligns with our mandate to support high-quality energy and energy-adjacent businesses that are well-positioned to capture growth across the region and beyond.”
The Arab Energy Fund is a multilateral impact financial institution established in 1974 by 10 Arab oil-exporting countries.
Mohammed Ali Ibrahim Alireza, managing director, APSCO, said: “We welcome The Arab Energy Fund as a strategic partner supporting our next phase of growth.”
He added: “As a pioneer in energy solutions for over 60 years, APSCO remains committed to quality, reliability, and innovation, while continuing to contribute to Vision 2030 by enhancing efficiency and minimizing environmental impact.”
The partnership is designed to bolster APSCO’s long-term growth strategy, operational excellence, and geographic expansion, leveraging TAEF’s regional expertise and institutional network.
APSCO is a Saudi energy company with more than 60 years of experience in integrated energy solutions, including aviation fuels, lubricants, and a nationwide automotive retail network.
The company holds long-term partnerships with global energy leaders, including a 60-year relationship with ExxonMobil for lubricant distribution across several Middle Eastern countries. Since 1999, APSCO has also been the exclusive aviation fueling services provider for Saudia.
