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, although it fluctuated according to the unstable political situation and international sanctions. The latest available data from the World Bank points to a foreign trade value equivalent to 36% of the country’s GDP in 2022. 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.

According to OEC, in 2023, Syria’s main export partner was Turkey (28.6% of total exports), followed by Saudi Arabia (16.1%), Lebanon (10.3%), India (10.0%), and the United Arab Emirates (5.4%); whereas imports came chiefly from Turkey (48.9%), the United Arab Emirates (10.9%), China (8.5%), Egypt (7.1%), and Lebanon (3%).

On January 11, 2025, Syria's new caretaker government overhauled the country's customs regulations, replacing outdated tariffs from the Assad era. The updated list covers over 6,000 items, and the General Directorate of Customs has also removed more than 10 additional fees (outlined in internal circulars to border crossings and ports). The previous tariff, which was based on a percentage of the price in Syrian pounds, has been replaced with a fixed dollar amount per unit (NMB, LTR, or KGM). According to estimates from the General Directorate of Customs, the new tariff reduces customs duties by 50-60% compared to the old system.