Wheat starch market in Syria

Earlier Report Observations

The wheat starch market in Syria showed significant volatility from 2018 to 2023. Market volume grew from 4 162 t in 2018 to 4 622 t in 2019, but then sharply dropped to 2 368 t in 2020. This sharp contraction was linked to the ongoing conflict, which caused wheat production to more than halve and worsened agricultural conditions, limiting raw material availability for starch production.

After 2020, the market gradually recovered, reaching 2 989 t in 2023. This growth was supported by a relative increase in wheat production, as well as plans to expand cultivated area to 1.5 million hectares. However, the recovery was constrained by challenges in securing seeds, fertilizers, and fuel, along with drought that negatively affected the harvest. Competition between the central government and the autonomous administration for wheat purchases in the key Hasakah region also created additional market complexities.

In 2024, imports of wheat starch amounted to 175 t, while exports were negligible. The market continued to face challenges including international sanctions, currency fluctuations, and internal disturbances that impacted supply and prices.

Production wheat starch in Syria

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of wheat starch, 2017-2020

World map of production of wheat starch, 2017-2020

Syria's wheat starch production saw a two-year period of growth before declining. In 2019, production reached its peak at 4 210 tonnes, marking a significant 29.2% increase from the previous year. However, by 2020, production had dropped sharply to 2 362 tonnes, representing a 43.9% decrease compared to 2019. Over the entire period from 2017 to 2020, production fell by 23.7%, which translates to an average annual decline of 8.6%.

Annual dynamics of production in Syria in kind, 2017-2020, t

Exports wheat starch from Syria

Exports in kind, t

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Syria in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, Belgium was the sole destination for Syria's wheat starch exports in kind, accounting for 100.0% of the total export flows.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Syria in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Syria in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Throughout the 2017–2020 period, exports in value terms were entirely concentrated on Belgium, which represented 100.0% of the total export flows.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Syria in value, 2017-2020

Imports wheat starch to Syria

Imports in kind, t

Syria's wheat starch imports in kind declined for the third year in a row. In 2019, imports were at a higher level, but by 2020, they had plummeted to just 6 tonnes, reflecting an abrupt 98.6% drop compared to the previous year. Over the 2017–2020 period, imports decreased by 99.5%, with an average annual decline of 82.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Syria in kind, 2017-2020, t

Between 2017 and 2020, Egypt was the dominant source for Syria's wheat starch imports in kind, accounting for 99.3% of the total import volume.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Syria in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

Syria's wheat starch imports in value terms fell for the third consecutive year. In 2020, imports amounted to 13.7 thousand US dollars, marking a sharp 92.5% decrease from the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, imports dropped by 96.9%, with an average annual decline of 68.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Syria in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Throughout 2017–2020, Egypt remained the nearly exclusive supplier of wheat starch to Syria in value terms, holding a 98.4% share of total imports.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Syria in value, 2017-2020