Syria collects 200 thousand tons of wheat out of million and a half expected

On June 22, the Syrian Ministry of Economy and Industry announced that it had received around 200,000 tons of wheat from the 2025 harvest so far — a 73% drop compared to last year's 750,000 tons. The country’s annual need is estimated at 4 to 5 million tons.

Production for 2025 is projected to reach 1.5 million tons.

Severe drought, a lack of fertilizers and pesticides, and competition over wheat crops from the so-called Autonomous Administration were among the main reasons for the decline.

While the SDF (Syrian Democratic Forces) offered $420 per ton to farmers for their crops, the Syrian government raised its offer to $450 per ton — allowing it to source around 17,000 tons from areas under SDF control.

After a relative recovery in 2023, when production reached 2 million tons, output dropped again in 2024 to just 750,000 tons.

The Syrian Grain Establishment expressed gratitude to Iraq for sending 250 tons of wheat on April 24. Meanwhile, Russian shipments continue to arrive in fulfillment of older contracts from the Assad-era.

The wheat shortage has had a direct impact on bread, a staple commodity. Its price soared from 400 to 4,000 Syrian pounds per bundle (10 loafs) following price liberalization after Assad’s fall.

On June 12, however, the price of bread dropped from 4,000 to 2,400 pounds in several provinces (excluding Damascus and its countryside) following an agreement between the Ministry of Economy and Industry and the World Food Program (WFP), which is now supplying flour to bakeries starting with the most at-risk areas and gradually expanding to others.

Moumin Sawady