The U.S. dollar continued to rise in Iraq’s parallel market on Sunday, reaching its highest levels in the country’s major trading centers as demand for cash dollars remained strong.
According to market data, the dollar was sold at 157,000 Iraqi dinars per $100 and bought at 156,500 dinars per $100 in both Baghdad and Basra. This marks a further increase from the previous day and widens the gap between the parallel market rate and the Central Bank of Iraq’s official exchange rate of 131,000 dinars per $100.
In Baghdad, exchange offices reported a selling price of 157,000 dinars and a buying price of 156,500 dinars. Basra recorded the same rates, reflecting steady demand from traders and businesses in southern Iraq.
In Erbil, the Kurdistan Region’s capital, the dollar traded slightly lower. Exchange shops sold $100 for 156,750 dinars and bought it for 156,500 dinars, maintaining a narrow spread and stable liquidity conditions.
The continued rise in dollar prices highlights ongoing pressure in Iraq’s currency market, with the parallel rate remaining significantly above the official exchange rate. Market observers attribute the increase to sustained demand for U.S. dollars in commercial and financial transactions across the country.
