Total Iraqi oil exports for April increased by 1.3 per cent, compared with March, to reach 75.3 million barrels or an average of 2.51 million barrels a day (b/d), according to the Oil Ministry.

Revenues from exports increased to $7.58bn in April from $7.51bn in March.

The ministry said that monthly oil exports from the southern ports were the highest since 2003, while exports from the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline in the north stopped because of militant attacks.

Oil exports and revenues have dipped from February when Iraq hit its highest export level for more than three decades at 2.8 million b/d and earned $8bn.