Damascus: On Sunday, April 21, 2025, Syria received its first wheat shipment since the ouster of former president Bashar al-Assad in December 2025.
The shipment, which arrived at the Mediterranean port of Latakia, contained 6,600 tonnes of wheat.
The port authority confirmed the arrival, though the origin of the wheat was not specified. An image of the vessel, named Pola Marina, revealed it to be a Russian-flagged ship that departed from Rostov-on-Don earlier this month. This wheat shipment marks a significant step in Syria's ongoing efforts to secure basic supplies and strengthen food security, as the country moves toward economic recovery.
Before the Syrian civil war, which began in 2011, Syria's domestic wheat production averaged 4.1 million tonnes annually, enough to meet local demand. However, production sharply declined due to the war, forcing the country to increasingly rely on imports, particularly from Russia.
This shipment, one of many anticipated in the near future, is seen as part of the new government's broader push to revive Syria’s battered economy. Despite this, a recent UN report highlighted the dire situation in Syria, with nine out of ten Syrians living in poverty and facing food insecurity.
