Syria has resumed crude oil exports for the first time in 14 years, marking a significant step in the country’s broader efforts to revitalise its economy following the ousting of Bashar al-Assad in December last year.
According to Reuters, citing a Syrian energy official, Damascus has supplied 600,000 barrels of heavy crude oil from Tartus port, with delivery facilitated through an agreement with trading company B Serve Energy.
The shipment, carried aboard the tanker Nissos Christiana, represents the country’s first major re-entry into international oil markets since conflict erupted in 2011.
Riyad al-Joubasi, Assistant Director for Oil and Gas at the Energy Ministry, said the crude was extracted from several Syrian fields, though the ministry did not identify the specific production sites.
Most of Syria’s crude is located in the north-east, an area controlled by Kurdish-led authorities who have often had uneasy relations with the central government.
The sensitivities surrounding control of those resources were not addressed in the statement.
Prior to the outbreak of war, Syria exported approximately 380,000 barrels of oil per day.
However, fighting devastated much of the country’s energy infrastructure, while sanctions imposed by Western countries made legitimate trade nearly impossible.
Production plummeted, and oil revenues — which once accounted for a major share of government income — collapsed.
The Islamist-led administration that replaced Assad has pledged economic renewal, focusing particularly on re-establishing energy exports as a foundation for broader recovery.
While the ministry confirmed the resumed shipments, international trading circles have been awaiting clarity on whether the current arrangement represents a one-time deal or signals the beginning of consistent export activity.
UK-based BB Energy, which has corporate links to B Serve Energy, did not respond to requests for comment regarding its role in the transaction.
Analysts say the development indicates the country’s eagerness to attract external partners as it seeks to expand output and re-integrate with international energy markets.
The timing of the exports followed a key policy shift by Washington.
In June, US President Donald Trump formally lifted sanctions that had been in place for more than a decade, clearing a path for foreign investment in Syria’s energy sector.
US firms are reported to be drafting plans to assist with exploration and upstream activity in the country.
Beyond oil exports, Syria is attempting to restructure its ports and transport systems to better facilitate trade.
Officials announced an $800 million (S£10.4 trillion) memorandum of understanding with DP World to develop and operate a new multi-purpose terminal at Tartus.
The agreement replaces a contract previously held by a Russian operator under Assad’s rule, reflecting the administration’s efforts to redefine its international partnerships and attract Gulf-based investors.
While these commitments represent progress, significant uncertainty remains.
Political tensions with Kurdish-led authorities complicate access to many major oilfields, while questions persist about the pace of infrastructure redevelopment after years of conflict.
Moreover, potential buyers face residual caution, given the long shadow of Syria’s prior sanctions regime.
Still, the renewed exports underscore the central role that energy is expected to play in rebuilding Syria’s shattered economy.
With regional stakeholders showing interest and external partners now legally able to invest, the country’s first shipment in more than a decade signals that Damascus is once again attempting to reclaim its place in the global oil trade.
