Iraq to raise daily oil output to 4.58mn barrels

Baghdad, June 4 Iraq said that its oil production would reach 4.58 million barrels per day (bpd) in July and August.

The latest increase came after the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies, a group known as OPEC+, agreed on significant oil output increases in July and August in an attempt to help contain the surging oil prices, Xinhua news agency quoted Asim Jihad, spokesman of the Oil Ministry, as saying on Friday.

"The producing countries are closely following developments in the oil markets and reviewing reports in this regard to take measures to ensure the stability of the international markets," Jihad said.

On Thursday, OPEC+ agreed to increase oil production during July and August by 648,000 bpd after the European Union announced a ban on Russian oil supplies.

Iraq's economy heavily relies on crude oil exports, which account for more than 90 per cent of the country's revenues.