The past decade of conflict in Syria has had devastating impacts on the economy and disrupted trade networks on a national and global scale. As the country moves on to a shaky phase of recovery, it keeps a fragile economy afloat through exports. An examination of the key exports offers a glimpse of what Syria can still offer, how it keeps itself alive, and the hurdles it has to overcome to restore and establish stable trade relationships.
What Are Syria’s Major Exports?
Historically, Syria has centered its exports on oil, agriculture, and textiles. Currently, Syria has its olive oil, citrus fruits, cotton, phosphate, and some manufactured goods exports, serving as the backbone of the economy. War and sanctions have taken a toll on oil exports, which used to be the crown jewel of Syria’s trade, but oil exports have drastically fallen since the first decade of the 21st century because of poorly kept infrastructure, sanctions, and war, and the oil field’s shifting control.
What Is Syria’s Best Export?
Syria’s export profile has been steadily improving in recent years. In 2023, the country exported goods worth around $1.27 billion, up from just $554 million in 2018—a sign of gradual recovery despite ongoing challenges. At the top of the list is pure olive oil, a product long associated with Syrian agriculture and now its most valuable export at over $300 million. Other notable exports include calcium phosphates, used in fertilizers, along with spice seeds, raw cotton, and tomatoes.
Regional partners remain the main buyers of these goods. Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, India, and the United Arab Emirates are currently the largest destinations for Syrian exports, reflecting both geographic proximity and traditional trade ties.
What Does the U.S. Buy From Syria?
Even with limited trade relations and tough restrictions, the U.S. still imports a few products from Syria. In 2024, the most valuable of these, costing nearly $3.86 million, were artworks, and collector’s pieces. The U.S. also imported $2.53 million worth of coffee, spices, and other pantry staples, alongside $1.17million of stone and cement.
Even if modest, these imports confirm U.S.–Syria trade relations still exist. These relations just have had a narrow focus, and only within the scope of the previous sanctions.
Does Syria Export Any Oil?
Yes, Syria exports some crude oil and refined oil products, but not nearly as much as they did prior to the conflict. The limited oil exports are informal and are sent through complicated methods because of sanctions, aging infrastructure, and the fragmentation of control over oil fields.
Crude Oil Exports
Prior to the conflict, Syria was producing hundreds of thousand barrels of oil per day, and exporting primarily to Europe. Oil was the core of the Syrian economy and contributed to a large income and foreign revenue.
Currently, crude oil exports have plummeted to less than a fraction of what they were before the war. Much of Syria’s oil fields, especially the northeast, lie in regions outside the control of the central government, and are run by local actors with limited capacity to refine the oil.
First Oil Export in 14 Years (2025)
As the U.S. removed sanctions preventing the country from exporting earlier in 2025, Syria has been able to export again. In September, 2025, Syria saw its first oil export of 600,000 barrels of heavy crude oil to trading firm B Serve Energy.
World Bank Reengagement and Investments
After a prolonged period of relative dormancy, the World Bank is once again supporting and funding Syria’s recovery. In June 2025, the World Bank approved a US$146 million grant for the Syria Electricity Emergency Project (SEEP). International funding and aid are important for Syria’s recovery, and for the World Bank, this is the first time in several years that it has supported Syria.
