Iraq’s Rumaila oil field cuts production amid overloaded storage and strait of Hormuz tanker delays

Iraq’s supergiant Rumaila oil field, one of the world’s largest, has begun reducing output due to overloaded storage facilities caused by severe delays in tanker arrivals through the Strait of Hormuz. Iraqi oil officials confirmed the forced curtailment on March 3, 2026, as escalating US-Israel-Iran conflict disrupts maritime traffic in the critical chokepoint, threatening Iraq’s oil-dependent economy.

Rumaila, producing roughly 1.4–1.5 million bpd (a significant share of Iraq’s total), is particularly vulnerable. The field has seen recent efforts to boost capacity through water injection and enhanced recovery, but current tensions reverse those gains.