Syria Still Leans on Russia for Oil Supply
Russian deliveries now cover most of Syria’s crude needs as domestic output falls far below demand, analysts said.
- Russian oil shipments to Syria have surged by about 75% this year, reaching roughly 60,000 barrels per day, making Moscow the country's primary crude supplier following the December 2024 fall of former President Bashar Assad.
- Iran halted supplies after Assad's ouster, forcing Syria to rely on Russian-linked networks despite political distrust, as domestic output remains low at about 35,000 barrels per day against estimated consumption of up to 150,000 barrels.
- Reuters tracked 21 vessels regularly delivering oil to Syrian ports, all operating under Western sanctions; tankers conduct ship-to-ship transfers near Cyprus or Greece to obscure cargo origins, according to maritime analytics firm SynMax.
- This reliance risks complicating Syria's efforts to rebuild ties with the United States and Europe; economist Karam Shaar warned that Washington could demand Syria immediately halt Russian oil imports if the U.S. fails to reach agreement with Russia on Ukraine.
- While Syria has unsuccessfully sought oil supply deals with Turkey, officials continue looking for alternative suppliers to reduce dependence on Moscow, yet Russian naval and air bases remain a sticking point in diplomatic discussions with Western governments.
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In 2026, supplies rose by 75% in 2026, Russia became Syria's main oil supplier, despite harboring former Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine with reference to Reuters. Read also: Japan has started buying oil from Russia as an alternative to the Middle East, - media According to the agency's calculations, based on official announcements and ship tracking data at LSEG, MarineTraffic and Shipnext, oil supplies from Rus…
Post-Assad Syria still dependent on Russian oil despite shift to the West – Reuters
Syria has become increasingly reliant on Russian oil imports despite its new government’s stated pivot toward the West and the collapse of the Russia-backed Bashar al-Assad regime, according to reporting by Reuters. Russia now supplies the majority of Syria’s crude needs, with shipments rising sharply this year even as Damascus seeks to reposition itself diplomatically after years of civil war and international isolation. According to calculatio…
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