Xifres de comerç exterior de Síria

Foreign Trade in Figures

Syria was open to international trade before the outbreak of the civil war in 2011. It had signed a free trade agreement with Turkey as well as an association agreement with the European Union and joined the GAFTA (a large Arab free trade area). After being subdued during the conflict, foreign trade finally regained momentum starting in 2021, when it represented 98% of the country's GDP (from 48% one year earlier, according to data World Bank). In 2023, the Ministry of Economy and Foreign Trade reported a significant 27% decrease in import values for both public and private sectors, totalling over EUR 3.2 billion compared to 2022. This decline was attributed to a government-imposed "rationing policy" focused on importing essential goods to mitigate foreign exchange demand. Conversely, exports surged by 60% in 2023, surpassing EUR 900 million across both sectors, resulting in a trade deficit of about EUR 2.3 billion. The increase in exports was driven by higher quantities and values of items like phosphate, clothing, shoes, medicines, and aromatic products such as cumin, as well as certain agricultural goods like almonds. However, specific exports like vegetables, anise, stones, sand, and gravel witnessed a decrease in quantities compared to 2022.

The Syrian government has implemented a strategy of "substituting imports and bolstering local products," resulting in monopolistic conditions for certain essential materials in the market. Additionally, the Central Bank of Syria (CBS) has introduced an "import financing platform" aimed at curtailing the depletion of foreign exchange reserves.
According to the WTO, Syria was the 124th-largest exporter and 130th-largest importer of merchandise in the world in 2022.