Iraq's 2019 oil sales will include shipments from the southern oilfields and Kirkuk, the ministry said in a statement.

Oil Minister Thamer Ghadban urged the adoption of a "balanced policy" when dealing with the global oil market and said Iraq's 2019 sales were aimed at maintaining stability.

"The economic and marketing basis and mechanisms, and strategic vision, adopted by (state oil marketer) SOMO in allocating the available quantities for exports are based upon the importance of each market with regards to demand and revenue generated from selling one barrel," said Asim Jihad, a ministry spokesman.

The head of state-oil marketer SOMO said in March that Iraq would seek to corner a greater share of Asian markets through a new joint venture strategy. Around 60 percent of Iraq's oil exports are already directed to Asia, he said at the time.