Iraq's crude oil exports from its southern oil terminals have jumped to record rates in April and theses are expected to be sustained for the rest of the year thanks to the operation of two new floating terminals.

Exports from the country's southern export terminals have surged by around 40,000 barrels a day so far in April, to 1.95 million barrels a day, the official told Dow Jones Newswires. Iraq said its southern exports averaged 1.91 million barrels a day in March.

"The average exports from the south in April is expected to increase beyond the 1.95 million barrels a day [level]," the official said.

Iraq's total crude oil exports in March jumped by 15% to 2.317 million barrels a day, a record high since the U.S.-led war in 2003, due to a new Single-Point Mooring, or SPM, facility.

Iraq expects its April exports from the south to remain at or climb to slightly above the levels of March as it has started operations at a second SPM. Each can handle up to 900,000 barrels a day.