Russia has become a key oil supplier for Syria - Reuters
Kyiv • UNN
In 2024, Russian oil supplies to Syria increased by 75%, replacing Iranian exports. Damascus is seeking new partners due to the risk of Western sanctions.
Russia has significantly increased oil supplies to Syria and has effectively become its main supplier, despite attempts by the new Syrian government to reorient toward the West. This is reported by Reuters with reference to vessel tracking data, UNN writes.
Details
According to the publication, in 2026, the volume of Russian supplies increased by 75% – to approximately 60,000 barrels per day, compared to 46,000 barrels in 2025. Although this is a small fraction of Russia's global exports, these volumes are of critical importance for Syria due to the shortage of its own production.
Syria's total demand for oil and fuel is estimated at 120,000–150,000 barrels per day. At the same time, domestic production remains low – about 35,000 barrels per day in 2025, which is significantly less than the pre-war level of 350,000 barrels. The country's largest field – Al-Omar provides only about 5,000 barrels per day.
After the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's regime in December 2024, Iran, which was previously the main supplier of crude oil, stopped exports to Syria. This created a vacuum that Russia quickly filled.
At the same time, the Syrian authorities are aware of the risks of such dependence. According to economist Karam Shaar, the purchase of Russian oil could lead to new Western sanctions, so Damascus is trying to diversify supplies. In particular, negotiations are being held with Turkey, but so far without results.
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Experts note that Syria's limited financial capabilities, weak integration into the global financial system, and the consequences of years of war complicate the conclusion of contracts with major international suppliers, particularly the Gulf countries.
In addition to the economic aspect, oil supplies strengthen Moscow's political influence in Syria, where it maintains naval and air bases.
Analytical companies also draw attention to non-transparent supply mechanisms. In particular, part of the oil is transported through the so-called "shadow fleet" using ship-to-ship transfers in the open sea. This practice allows for the concealment of the origin of cargoes and potentially bypasses sanctions.
Despite the fact that Syrian state media report the arrival of oil, they do not disclose its origin, which may be due to the negative attitude of part of the population toward Russia because of its support for the previous regime.