DUBAI,(Reuters) - Iraq halted crude oil exports through its northern pipeline to Turkey early Monday morning, a shipping agent said.

"They stopped pumping at around five thirty this morning," a shipping agent said referring to Turkey's local time which corresponds to 0330 GMT.

"We have not been informed of the reason for the stoppage, but it could resume later this evening."

The shipping agent said Iraq had been pumping crude through the pipeline at a rate of 18,000 barrels per hour, adding there were about 4 million barrels in storage currently.

An explosion last week disrupted exports via the pipeline for a few days. But supply flows resumed late last week.

The reason for the blast has not yet been determined, though local officials in the province of Sanliurfa previously said the explosion had been caused by high pressure inside the pipeline.