Chinese Rice, Russian Wheat: Syria’s Ports Powering a Nation in Need

The Syrian port of Tartus received 50,000 tons of rice imported from China on September 17, amid soaring food prices and 90% of the population living below the poverty line according to the United Nations, following 13 years of war.

Three days earlier, on September 13, a shipment of 31,000 tons of wheat arrived from Russia via two ships for the Syrian Grain Corporation, indicating the continued implementation of previous contracts from the Assad era. This supports the country’s bread production after a weak local wheat season due to drought and competition from the SDF in sourcing the crop.

Despite the lifting of a large portion of U.S. sanctions (which originally excluded food and medicine), Syria’s food supplies have been limited to a few countries including Turkey, Jordan, and Iraq.

The Director General of the General Grain Corporation, Engineer Hassan Othman, thanked the Republic of Iraq for sending 220,000 tons of wheat as a grant on April 25.

In a statement on September 17, the Syrian General Authority for Land and Sea Ports said that the Tartus port received a massive ship from China’s Dalian port carrying over 50,000 tons of rice. The ship measures 190 meters in length, demonstrating the port’s readiness to receive giant vessels and its strategic role as an economic gateway and hub for regional and international trade.

Wheat and rice are considered the two main staples for Syrians, whose prices have surged significantly after the fall of the Assad regime. The new government liberalized prices and linked them to the U.S. dollar, causing the price of a bread bundle to rise from 400 Syrian pounds during Assad’s time to 4,000 pounds today.

The World Food Programme in Syria signed an agreement with the Syrian government to supply around 64 bakeries with flour and provide subsidized bread at operational cost to approximately two million citizens in the most vulnerable provinces, including Aleppo, to ease living burdens.

The agreement aims to support the most needy families and secure bread, with plans to expand the program to include other provinces later.

📋 Agreement Details

• Objective: Provide bread bundles at a low price (operational cost only) for the most vulnerable families.

• Contribution: The program will supply 40,000 tons of flour worth approximately $16 million.

• Target Areas: Phase one includes Aleppo, Daraa, Latakia, Tartus, Hama, and Homs, with plans to expand later.

• Beneficiaries: Around two million Syrian citizens.

• Timeline: Implementation begins in June 2025 and continues until the end of the year, with potential renewal based on need.

🌍 Broader Program Goals

• Support Provision: Part of efforts to improve living conditions for Syrian citizens.

• Partnership Enhancement: Strengthen future cooperation with the Syrian government across various sectors.

• Sustainable Development: Contribute to rebuilding Syria and enhancing its social stability.

Sources: SANA, Syrian General Authority for Land and Sea Ports

Syria news report