The United States has begun importing Iraqi fuel oil shipped through Syria for the first time, marking the use of a new Mediterranean export route as Iraq adapts to prolonged disruptions affecting Gulf shipping.
According to the report, the route was established to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, where ongoing regional conflict has significantly restricted oil exports.
The report said three Aframax tankers loaded Iraqi-origin fuel oil at Syria's Mediterranean port of Baniyas between June and July before departing for the U.S. Gulf Coast.
The cargoes were transported overland from Iraq into Syria before being loaded onto vessels, creating an alternative supply chain for international buyers.
According to the report, these are the first recorded fuel oil shipments from Syria to the United States, highlighting how energy exporters are increasingly developing alternative trade routes to maintain supplies amid ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
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US imports first fuel oil cargoes shipped via Syria as Iraq leverages new export route https://t.co/8ZodaAIh2o https://t.co/8ZodaAIh2o
— Reuters (@Reuters) July 23, 2026
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