Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – South Korea’s imports of Iraqi crude oil fell sharply in April 2026 due to supply interruptions caused by the Middle East conflict.
According to the Korea International Trade Association (KITA), South Korea’s imports of Iraqi oil declined by 42.4 percent on an annual basis to around 5.84 million barrels, local news outlet Shafaq News reported.
Seoul’s crude oil imports from Middle Eastern countries fell by 37.3 percent to 32.77 million barrels, lowering the region’s proportion of overall imports to 53.1 percent.
South Korea’s total crude oil imports stood at 8.46 million tons in April, a 22.8 percent decline compared to the same period in 2025, mainly because of the consequences of the war in the region.
The Asian country’s oil imports from Saudi Arabia, its major supplier, declined by 37.6 percent to 2.146 million tons, and its imports from Kuwait plunged by over 98 percent to around 10,000 tons, while Qatar’s supplies ceased entirely.
South Korea’s oil imports from the UAE surged by 81.6 percent to 1.4 million tons, while imports from the United States increased by 13.4 percent to over 2.145 million tons.
These developments represent a shift in South Korea’s energy supply overview, as Middle East tensions continue to influence global oil flows.