Urea Investment in Basra: KEPPT hired J.P. Morgan to arrange development financing for a $1.6bn urea plant in Iraq, targeting 1.15m tonnes/year, with construction due to start in 2027 and operations in 2030—aimed at cutting urea imports and supporting agriculture. Oilfield Operations: Basra Oil Company and Halliburton signed a five-year integrated management contract for Bin Omar and Sindbad fields, with plans to raise crude output and expand associated gas to support power generation. Industrial Finance Push: The same KEPPT financing deal highlights how Iraq’s private industrial projects are lining up export-credit-backed funding and engineering support to move from design to build. Trade & Investment Links: DEİK’s Türkiye-Iraq Business Council met Iraqi officials in Baghdad to push cooperation across energy, industry, food, logistics and manufacturing, including steps to ease customs, investment rules and banking frictions. Shipping Reality Check: With Hormuz still tense, Iraq-linked crude loading remains active—MRPL chartered a tanker to lift Iraqi Basrah crude, the first such move by an Indian state refiner since the partial reopening. Regional Energy Pressure: OPEC+ approved another August output increase that includes Iraq, as Gulf exports recover and crude prices soften—setting a tougher market backdrop for Iraqi producers.