The economy should have been one of the region’s star performers last year, with growth benefitting from looser average OPEC+ quotas. In 2022, crude production increased around 10% year on year. However, failure to pass a 2022 budget will have hampered public spending, and investment was likely contained by institutional gridlock and sociopolitical instability. Turning to 2023, momentum is easing; in January, oil production fell from December and was up less than 5% in annual terms on the back of tighter OPEC+ quotas since late last year. Moreover, the parallel exchange rate weakened substantially in January, hurting purchasing power; the Central Bank responded by re-pegging the currency at a stronger rate against the dollar. In politics, the country is yet to pass a 2023 budget, which will be containing government expenditure.
Iraq Foreign Direct Investment (USD bn) Data
2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Foreign Direct Investment (USD bn) | -5.0 | -4.9 | -3.5 | -2.9 | -2.6 |