Normal commercial gasoline prices have increased further in Erbil, while prices in Sulaymaniyah have remained stable.
The Kurdistan Region has faced gasoline shortages and rising prices for more than two months. Recent market monitoring shows that normal commercial gasoline has become unavailable at many fuel stations in Erbil.
However, the government continues to distribute subsidized gasoline at 750 Iraqi dinars per liter.
Today, authorities are distributing 750-dinar gasoline at 16 stations in Sulaymaniyah, 12 stations in Duhok and two stations in Halabja. Erbil is also distributing the subsidized fuel at 35 stations.
Bahman Sheikh Qadir, spokesperson for Sulaymaniyah fuel stations, said commercial gasoline prices have not changed in the province.
He said normal gasoline currently sells for 1,200 dinars per liter. Improved gasoline costs 1,750 dinars, while super gasoline sells for 1,900 dinars.
Erbil has recorded a different trend. Normal commercial gasoline has become scarce at most stations.
An informed source said the normal gasoline price increased sharply. Some stations were unwilling to purchase fuel at the higher wholesale price.
The wholesale price reached 1,700 dinars per liter on Thursday morning before declining slightly.
At stations that currently sell normal gasoline in Erbil, prices range from 1,800 to 1,850 dinars per liter. Improved gasoline costs around 2,250 dinars, while super gasoline reaches 2,500 dinars.
KRG Natural Resources Minister Kamal Mohammed Salih said the government distributes around 3.5 million liters of subsidized gasoline every day.
He said the distribution will continue to support consumers and increase market supply.
The minister also said authorities expect improved and super gasoline imports to increase. Higher supplies could push prices lower across the market.
However, government subsidies currently apply only to normal gasoline.
The Iraqi government supplies 50,000 barrels of crude oil to the Kurdistan Region each day. Officials say the amount produces around 1.75 million liters of gasoline.
The Kurdistan Region has approximately 2.8 million vehicles. Officials say the current crude allocation cannot meet the region’s fuel demand.
Normal gasoline prices started rising sharply in June. Before June 6, a liter generally sold for 850 to 900 dinars.
On June 6, the price in Erbil reached 1,175 dinars. Sulaimani recorded a similar increase the following day.
On August 14, the Ministry of Natural Resources announced plans to significantly increase the distribution of 750-dinar gasoline.
Despite the additional supply, normal gasoline prices have yet to return to previous levels.
