Crude exports from southern Iraq ports increased month-on-month, with loadings further bolstered by new Kirkuk sales from Ceyhan as Baghdad-Erbil deal enters second month intact.

South Oil Company takes the largest role to date for a state owned company in a technical service contract after Occidental Petroleum's exit.

The autonomous Kurdistan region is struggling to keep its promises to IOCs, owing two months of payments to most oil producers in the region.

Production and export growth to continue, but short-term gains still held back by financial crisis and contractor uncertainty.

Iraq earns its highest monthly oil receipts in a year as exports and prices rise.