Syria bans poultry imports to help war-torn industry

As the rationale behind the move, the authorities voiced concerns over the quality of foreign products and cited the need to protect local farmers from competition.

The decision comes a few weeks after Syrian authorities suspended exports of 20 agricultural products, including broiler meat and eggs.

In an interview with SANA news agency, Saeed Ibrahim, director of Agricultural Economics and Planning at the Ministry of Agriculture, emphasised the government’s commitment to protecting the poultry industry through these import restrictions. This move is seen as a significant step towards supporting local farmers. He added that the new strategy aims to reduce reliance on imports, strengthen food security, and ease the burdens on the national economy.

The restrictions will be temporarily subject to revision monthly. They can be swiftly adjusted based on the existing supply-demand balance and the market situation. As local traders will be forced to rely on local products, this will encourage farmers to expand operations, Ibrahim projected.

Industry in tatters

Former President Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria was overthrown in December 2024, as a result of a war-ravaged offensive launched by opposition forces. This marked the end of the civil war in the country that began in 2011.

The poultry industry suffered significant damage during the conflict, though the exact figures remain unavailable, particularly because the Assad government in recent years controlled only around 60% of the Syrian territory.

When war broke out, Syria had an expanding poultry industry, with an annual production of 300,000 tonnes of poultry meat and 5 billion eggs, of which 1.5 billion were exported to the neighbouring Persian Gulf countries. However, due to damage to the industry, Syria has been a net importer of broiler meat and eggs over the past several years.

According to the Observatory of Economic Complexity, in 2023, Syria exported poultry valued at only US$1.1 million, with the entire quantity being shipped to Lebanon. Imports totalled US$31.6 million, coming exclusively from Turkey.

The new Syrian government restrains food trade, which is only starting to show the first signs of revival. For the last decade, it has been hampered by harsh international sanctions imposed against the Assad regime. In May 2025, US President Donald Trump and the European Union ordered the lifting of sanctions on Syria in an effort to help the war-torn country recover.