A government decree that took effect at midnight on Sunday raised diesel prices in Syria by 40 percent and petrol prices by 28 percent, prompting protests from Aleppo and Idlib to Hama and Deraa. Demonstrators burned tyres, blocked roads and shut the main highway between Damascus and Aleppo.
The initial demonstrations have eased in some areas, but protests continued on Wednesday when demonstrators blocked the M4 highway near Tal Tamr in northeastern Syria, stranding hundreds of oil tankers. They said the route would remain closed until the increases were reversed.
Higher costs are reaching buses and markets
In Damascus, minibuses raised fares from 30 to 45 cents. Bus driver Adel Ali Meree said an eight-hour shift left him with only $4.50 after paying for diesel, while he might earn about $10 a day. Related coverage: Syria’s former grand mufti awaits verdict in Damascus trial.
Tour-bus operator Bashar Sleiman said the daily cost of filling a 90-litre tank rose from the equivalent of $84 to $120. He expects to raise his usual $110–$125 daily rate by at least $15, although his company has not finalised a new pricing structure.
On the Idlib–Beirut route, a 25-passenger bus now requires $280 in diesel for a round trip. The operator has kept the ticket price at $40 so far, relying on full buses to absorb the additional cost. In Damascus’s Mezzeh neighbourhood, a produce seller said delivery charges rose from $4 to $12 per load.
Key figures
- Nearly 90% of Syrians live below the poverty line, according to the United Nations.
- Since February, 95-octane petrol has risen by about 86%, while diesel has more than doubled.
- Syria produces about 100,000 barrels of crude oil a day, while domestic demand is about 300,000–325,000 barrels of oil and petroleum products.
- About 60% of Syria’s diesel supply is imported, according to the Ministry of Energy.
Government points to import dependence as scrutiny grows
The Ministry of Energy says Syria’s domestic market needs roughly three times the crude oil it produces, leaving the country reliant on imports. Officials have blamed the increases on the cost of securing fuel internationally. Read the context: Fuel price increases test Syria’s fragile economic recovery.
Security units have begun intercepting tankers heading to unlicensed refineries, as a black market for diesel expands. The latest increase followed several earlier rises and came while Syria continues recovering from a more than decade-long war that ended with the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024.
The government says the price hikes are temporary. The People’s Assembly was scheduled to question Energy Minister Mohammed al-Bashir on Thursday, but the session was postponed until September 20 because the ministry needed more time to prepare.
No comments yet. Start the discussion.