Iraq’s semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan has begun targeting Baltic crude markets in north-western Europe, rivaling traditional Russian supplies and increasing an oil glut in the region, trading sources said and shipping data showed. At least three vessels with Kurdish oil arrived in the Baltic ports of Gdansk in Poland and Butinge in Lithuania in October-November, traders told Reuters. “These are the first Kurdish barrels going to Europe’s north,” a source with a trading house told Reuters. Kurdistan this week for the first time detailed its oil exports operations, explaining how it bypassed Baghdad since 2014. It says its exports are now going to as many as 10 countries but it is premature to disclose final destinations as Iraq’s state oil firm Somo is still threatening to take buyers to court. Reuters previously reported Kurdish oil has reached Israel and Hungary. The arrival of Kurdish barrels further intensifies the fight […]