DAMASCUS — The Syrian interim government raised fuel prices by 26% and diesel prices by 40% in September 2026. Protests against the fuel price increases occurred in Idlib, Aleppo, and Damascus.

The Ministry of Interior reported that numerous individuals were detained during the September 2026 protests. Most detainees were released within 48 hours, though some faced charges related to public disorder and incitement.

The Syrian Oil Derivatives Pricing Committee issued a formal report on September 12, 2026, justifying the increases. The body cited international market trends, refinery maintenance, and currency shortages as primary drivers for the decision.

Mohammed Omar, a citizen, questioned the economic trajectory. “What’s the point of having 24 hours of electricity if you can’t afford to keep the lights on?” he said. “What type of path are we on if prices are rising but Syria is not rebuilding?”

Prices for goods including vegetables and cement rose between 10% and 30% in the weeks following the fuel price hike. Bus fares to Hama increased by 25% as transport operators adjusted to higher operating costs. Over 50 members of Syria’s transitional parliament signed a petition to question Energy Minister Mohammed al-Bashir over the fuel price hikes, as reported by Euronews on September 14, 2026.

Al-Bashir stated that the government spends $831 million per month to purchase crude oil and petroleum products. The Ministry of Energy's 2026 budget allocated $1.2 billion for fuel imports, but only 60% of this amount was secured by August 2026, according to internal financial reports obtained by independent analysts.

Syria imports approximately 75% of its diesel and 80% of its gasoline, according to a September 2026 analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). In a 2025 parliamentary session, the Ministry of Energy admitted that Russia and Iran accounted for 60% of total imports.

The Baniyas oil refinery has been offline for two months for upgrades to increase capacity from 80,000 to 130,000 barrels per day. Iraqi tanker trucks are transporting gasoline through Syria to the Mediterranean port of Baniyas to help meet demand.

Mohammed Ghazal, an economist and adviser to the Central Bank of Syria, noted the social impact of the transition. “A free-market economy will have negative side effects on the most vulnerable segments of society in the near-term,” he said. “That is why, in my view, there must also be a social protection program for this segment to protect them from rising prices and fees. We must balance strategic needs with social support while avoiding the corrupt subsidies of the past.”

The World Bank assesses that two-thirds of Syrians live below the lower middle-income poverty line on less than $3.65 a day. Electricity availability in Damascus and other cities has increased to up to 20 hours per day, following a 13% price increase earlier in 2026.

The number of cars on Syrian roads increased by 44%, from 2.5 million to 3.6 million, since December 2024. The Syrian government aims to achieve fuel self-sufficiency by 2028 by rehabilitating oil and gas fields and rebuilding a gas pipeline connecting Syria to Jordan and Egypt.

Why It Matters

The fuel price adjustments occur as the Syrian interim government navigates a complex economic landscape marked by heavy reliance on imported energy. With two-thirds of the population living below the lower middle-income poverty line, the cost of basic goods and transport directly affects household stability. The detention of numerous protesters indicates the state's response to civil unrest, while legislative petitions signal internal political pressure on energy policy.

International developments, including the lifting of U.S. sanctions and Japanese measures targeting specific entities, frame the broader context of Syria's reintegration into global markets. However, the continued dependence on foreign suppliers like Russia and Iran, combined with domestic infrastructure challenges such as the Baniyas refinery upgrades, shows the vulnerability of the national energy supply. The government's goal of self-sufficiency by 2028 remains contingent on successful rehabilitation projects and stable import channels.

Timeline

Electricity prices in Syria increased by 13% earlier in 2026. French President Emmanuel Macron signed economic, transport, and infrastructure agreements during a visit to Damascus in July 2026. The United States lifted all remaining sanctions on Syria in August 2026.

The Syrian Oil Derivatives Pricing Committee, a body under the Ministry of Energy, issued a formal report on September 12, 2026, justifying the fuel price increases based on international market trends, refinery maintenance, and currency shortages. Over 50 members of Syria’s transitional parliament signed a petition to question Energy Minister Mohammed al-Bashir over the fuel price hikes, as reported by Euronews on September 14, 2026, reflecting growing legislative scrutiny of the government’s economic policies.

What's New

Syria imports approximately 75% of its diesel and 80% of its gasoline, according to a September 2026 analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), showing the country’s vulnerability to global energy market fluctuations. Japan lifted sanctions on 16 Syrian entities, including the Syrian Petroleum Company and Syria Trading Oil Company, to support reconstruction following the 2024 collapse of former President Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Sanctions remain in place on some individuals and entities despite the recent easing of measures by Japan.