Logistics services in Syria.

Syria logistics overview: modes, trade and gateways

Logistics services in Syria cover sea, air, rail, and road options. Goods move through about 3 seaports on the Mediterranean, including Al Ladhiqiyah, Baniyas, and Tartus, supported by about 193 km of coastline and 3 oil terminals. Containerized cargo uses these ports alongside scheduled air cargo through 4 main international airports in Aleppo, Damascus, Latakia, and Qamishli.

A rail network of about 2,052 km connects inland areas to ports, complementing road traffic across borders with Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey. Syria handled about 243,000 TEU in 2020 and about 1.6 million tonne-km of air freight in 2023, giving shippers multiple routes for export goods like olive oil and phosphates and import cargo such as plastics and wheat flours.

Freight forwarders in Syria need familiarity with the main ports of Al Ladhiqiyah, Baniyas, and Tartus, and with container services reflected in about 243,000 TEU of throughput in 2020. Shippers should look for forwarders that understand links to key trade partners such as Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, India, the UAE, China, and Egypt, given their large shares in Syria’s exports and imports.

The logistics performance index score of about 2.3 is below the world median of 2.7, with customs and infrastructure at about 2.2. When choosing freight forwarders in Syria, check their track record handling customs processes, reliability on timing where the LPI time score is about 2.5 versus a 3.1 median, and experience with regional gateways in peer markets such as Iran, Yemen, Iraq, and Pakistan.

FCL and LCL shipping from and to Syria moves mainly via the Mediterranean ports of Al Ladhiqiyah, Baniyas and Tartus, which together handle about 243,000 TEU a year. Liner shipping connectivity is modest, with an index value of 8.39, so sailing options are more limited than the global average.

CMA CGM, Maersk, ANL, Arkas, COSCO, Hapag-Lloyd and MSC have offices in Syrian port cities such as Lattakia and Tartous, giving direct access to major container networks. Al Ladhiqiyah and Tartus offer cargo pier depths of about 12.5 m and rail links into the interior, useful for heavier FCL flows.

Air freight in Syria uses 4 airports with scheduled international service: Aleppo International Airport (ALP), Damascus International Airport (DAM), Latakia International Airport (LTK), and Qamishli International Airport (KAC). These airports connect the main population and industrial centers, including the capital Damascus and the coastal area near Latakia.

Air cargo volume reached about 1.6 million tonne-km in 2023, with a world ranking between 114 and 184. Air freight in Syria suits higher-value or time-sensitive shipments of export goods such as olive oil, spice seeds, and tomatoes, and imports like plastics, plastic products, and seed oils that benefit from shorter transit times compared with sea or land routes.

Rail and road freight in Syria rely on a mixed network that links ports and borders. The country has about 2,052 km of railway, with rail freight volume recorded at about 2.2 billion tonne-km in 2010 and a world ranking between 57 and 113. Rail connections reach Al Ladhiqiyah and Tartus, which both have rail access at the port.

Road freight moves across borders with Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey, supported by a coastline of about 193 km that connects directly to seaports rather than requiring foreign gateway ports. Syria has about 42 airports in total, which, alongside roads and rail, give multiple routing options for moving containerized, bulk, and general cargo to and from neighboring markets.

Customs clearance in Syria operates within the framework of World Customs Organization membership, which dates from 1959. The country is not a member of the World Trade Organization. The average applied tariff in 2020 was about 9 percent, shaping landed cost calculations for imports such as tobacco, plastics, wheat flours, and seed oils.

The logistics performance index customs score was about 2.2 in 2022, compared with a world median of about 2.6. Overall LPI stood at about 2.3 versus a 2.7 median, with infrastructure at about 2.2 and tracking at about 2.3. Reported lead times in 2016 were about 1 day for exports and about 5 days for imports. For customs in Syria, shippers should prepare a clear commercial invoice, packing list, and transport document to support risk-based controls and avoid delays.