Vessels with 37.5 thousand tons of Ukrainian wheat arrived at Syrian ports

On Wednesday, September 3, two ships from Ukraine arrived at the ports of Latakia and Tartus.

These ships delivered grain under contracts signed by the Syrian Grain Authority, writes the Syrian publication  Enab Baladi. .

The port of Latakia received 16,000 tons, and the port of Tartus – 21,500 tons of wheat.

“The main purpose of these import deliveries is to replenish strategic wheat reserves in Syria and ensure uninterrupted supply of flour to state and private bakeries throughout the country. This will help stabilize the production of bread, which is one of the most important daily needs of the population,” the report says.

The director of public relations for the General Administration of Land and Sea Ports of Syria, Mazen Alloush, noted that additional contracts are currently being concluded, and new batches of wheat will arrive at Syrian ports in the near future as part of a broader strategy to ensure annual demand.

In particular, it is noted that wheat production in Syria in the 2024/25 MY has significantly decreased due to climate change, drought and lack of rainfall. This year’s yield is only 25% of the annual average. Wheat production is estimated at 750 thousand tons compared to 2 million tons last year. Agricultural experts call this year a “year of drought” because more than 70% of the sown area has been damaged.

The reduction in production is also associated with rising prices for agricultural inputs such as fertilizers, seeds, pesticides and fuel, as well as unstable and low crop prices and insufficient support from the state. Many farmers have abandoned wheat cultivation in favor of less costly and more profitable crops such as cumin, anise and black cumin. High irrigation costs have further reduced productivity, forcing farmers to sell wheat before harvest as livestock feed due to the inability to complete the agricultural cycle.

The Syrian government failed to complete an international tender announced in April to import 100,000 tons of milling wheat, although 6,600 tons arrived at the port of Tartus from Russia that same month. After the lifting of sanctions, imports have become more convenient and less expensive thanks to the restoration of direct bank transfers. Previously, each transfer of $100 was accompanied by an additional cost of $2-5 through indirect routes.

According to the Syrian Ministry of Agriculture, the country needs 4 million tons of wheat annually for a population of 22.5 million, indicating a deficit of 80% of the need.

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