Iraq may base 2017 draft budget on US$35/barrel oil price: PM Abadi

[BAGHDAD] Iraq may base its public budget for 2017 on an oil price of US$35 per barrel, about the same level as this year, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi told a news conference on Tuesday in Baghdad.

Iraq, which depends on oil sales for 95 per cent of its public spending, lowered this year its crude price assumption to about US$32 a barrel from an initial forecast of US$45 a barrel.

The price assumption for 2017 could still change by parliament which has to approve it, a spokesman of Abadi said separately after the press conference.

Iraq is Opec's second-largest producer after Saudi Arabia with an output of 4.6 million barrels per day.

Iraq sells its crude at a discount to international oil prices that are hovering now at about US$50 a barrel.

REUTERS