Iraq鈥檚 oil exports hit 107.05 million barrels last month, marking an 11.5 percent year-on-year rise, according to the Oil Ministry on Monday.
In Monday's statement, the ministry said the revenues from March exports stood at $6.43 billion based on figures released by the state oil marketing firm SOMO.
Ministry spokesman Assem Jihad said the figure did not include any exports from the northern province of Kirkuk, where oil activity remains halted since Iraqi forces took over the facilities in response to last September鈥檚 illegitimate referendum for independence of the Kurdish Regional Government from the central government in Baghdad.
Jihad confirmed the average oil price for March was $60.11 per barrel, and added that oil was shipped by 39 multinational companies from the ports of Basra, Khor Al- Omaia and the single point moorings in the Persian Gulf.
-No diesel imports
Meanwhile, Oil Minister Jabbar Ali Al-Luiebi announced that the ministry has decided to stop importing diesel in May for the first time since 2003 due to high production levels.
In a telegram sent to Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Monday, al-Luiebi said that production in March exceeded consumption at 17,158 cubic meters. The reserve capacity was also increased to 360,000 cubic meters.
April鈥檚 average diesel production so far is 17,894 cubic meters, according to the statement.
Al-Luiebi added that the ministry aimed to reduce diesel imports by 50 percent, which depends on the consumption for generating electricity.
Iraq is OPEC's second largest oil producer after Saudi Arabia.
By Hale Turkes
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr