اخبار سوريا اليوم – وطن نيوز
سوريا اليوم – اخبار سوريا عاجل
W6nnews.com ==== وطن === تاريخ النشر – 2026-03-10 00:19:00
Syrian markets are witnessing a new wave of high prices, affecting many basic commodities and foodstuffs, in light of complex economic conditions that are exhausting Syrians. This new wave of high prices is directly reflected in the living conditions of Syrians, as the gap between income levels and prices widens, which prompts many families to reduce their consumption or give up some basic goods. The continued rise in prices also leads to an increase in inflation rates in local markets, which threatens a further deterioration in purchasing power and deepens the social and economic challenges that Syrians face in their daily lives. Prices rising at a sudden rate. Enab Baladi toured a number of markets in the Syrian governorates, and it was noted that prices rose at a high rate during the current week, as some goods rose by about 50%. The price of a kilo of chicken ranged between 34 and 39 thousand Syrian pounds, after it was between 28 and 32 thousand Syrian pounds last week. The price of a kilo of chicken cutlets reached about 80 thousand Syrian pounds, after recording 52-56 thousand Syrian pounds. As for a kilo of “rose thighs,” the price of a kilo of “rose thighs” recorded 50 thousand Syrian pounds, after it was 35 thousand Syrian pounds. Vegetables were also not immune from the wave of high prices, as a kilo of tomatoes recorded in Damascus markets 20,000 Syrian pounds, after it recorded 12,000 Syrian pounds last week, and a kilo of cucumbers and peppers recorded a price of 18,000 Syrian pounds, while their price was 11-15 thousand Syrian pounds, and a kilo of lemons exceeded 25,000 Syrian pounds, after they were sold for about 18,000 Syrian pounds. The high prices also affected sweets, juices, fruits, and even the prices of clothes. A number of sellers, interviewed by Enab Baladi, confirmed that sales activity had declined significantly, and sales cases had become limited to small samples. They attributed the high prices to several factors, the most important of which are the increase in transportation costs, a shortage of local products, and the closure of the import of some agricultural and animal species. Structural and imported inflation This new wave of rising prices raises many questions about its true causes, the extent of its connection to local and regional economic variables, as well as its direct effects on Syrian families’ purchasing power and living standards. It also raises concerns about the possibility of continued inflationary pressures during the coming period if measures are not taken to limit the acceleration in prices. The economist and university professor at the Faculty of Economics at the University of Hama, Dr. Abdul Rahman Muhammad, said that in 2026 the Syrian economy is witnessing a new and violent inflationary wave, described as the second of its kind in terms of intensity in a short period, as the prices of basic materials have jumped in an unprecedented way to record record numbers that exceed the citizen’s ability to bear. “The current wave of high prices that we are experiencing is not just a passing seasonal rise, but rather a structural and imported inflation at the same time,” according to what Dr. Muhammad said during his talk to Enab Baladi. Muhammad believes that its economic causes can be characterized by analyzing the following factors: 1. Supply shock versus seasonal demand increase: With the advent of the month of Ramadan, consumer demand for food and meat increases sharply, putting upward pressure on prices. On the other hand, local supply suffers from severe limitations as a result of natural factors such as drought, and weak agricultural and livestock production due to high input costs, which creates a large price gap. 2. Increasingly high production costs: The Syrian farmer is suffering from an unprecedented rise in the costs of production inputs, most notably fertilizers, which have risen dramatically as a result of exchange rate fluctuations and their connection to imports. For example, the price of a ton of urea fertilizer jumped suddenly, which is directly reflected in the cost of production and thus in the final price for the consumer. Also, labor wages and transportation wages (which are linked to the price of fuel) are increasing, which increases the burden on the farmer and reduces his profit margin or forces him to raise prices. 3. Weakness of the currency and imported inflation: Despite talk about replacing the currency and deleting zeros, the value of the Syrian pound still suffers from weakness against the dollar, which makes high prices “imported.” The Syrian economy relies heavily on imports, whether for finished materials or raw materials and production requirements. Any decline in the exchange rate immediately translates into an increase in the prices of both imported and local goods. 4. Supply chain disruption and transportation costs: Supply chains are affected by internal factors, such as weak infrastructure, and external factors, such as geopolitical tensions in the region. These disruptions lead to the disruption of some transportation routes and increased shipping costs, which in turn is reflected in the prices of goods in local markets. 5. The absence of effective intervention and unregulated market mechanisms: With the Ministry of Economy relying largely on the free market policy, and the absence of effective oversight of the wholesale and retail markets, merchants and grocery owners play a fundamental role in price speculation. Often, large increases in prices go into the pockets of the intermediaries, while the farmer remains receiving a low price for his production that does not cover its cost. Severe food inflation As for economic researcher Muhammad Al-Salloum, he believes that the Syrian market is witnessing a new wave of high prices that can be described economically as a wave of severe and accelerating food inflation, and not just a seasonal increase linked to the usual demand cycle. From an economic perspective, this wave can be understood through the intersection of several structural factors, according to Al-Salloum’s vision in his talk to Enab Baladi, which are: the continuous rise in production, transportation, and energy costs, as food supply chains still depend to a large extent on imported or high-cost fuel, which adds additional burdens on every link of the food value chain, starting from the farm, through transportation and storage, all the way to the sales outlets. The second factor is represented by supply bottlenecks resulting from weak local production on the one hand, and import complications or delayed granting of licenses on the other hand, which often creates an actual or expected shortage in supply. In such unstable environments, merchants tend to price according to what might be called “tomorrow’s price” instead of “today’s price,” in anticipation of subsequent increases in costs. The third factor is related to the rise in seasonal demand with the advent of the month of Ramadan, which is a traditional factor in Syrian markets, but this time it is operating on a fragile inflationary ground that has accumulated over many years. The fourth factor is the heavy inflationary legacy that has accumulated since 2019, as basic commodity prices witnessed significant cumulative increases that weakened the value of the local currency and emptied wages of their real content, such that any new shock, even if it were limited, became capable of causing noticeable price jumps. In the broader geopolitical context, the impact of regional tensions, including the escalation between Iran and Israel, cannot be overlooked. It is true that the relationship is not direct at the level of daily prices of goods in local markets, but these developments raise the costs of energy, transportation, shipping, and insurance in the region, and increase the risks of supply disruption, according to Al-Salloum. For a fragile economy that depends on imports for an important part of its food and oil needs, these external shocks double the already existing inflationary pressures. The inflation rate in the first quarter was 100%. Based on available data and analysis of market trends, Dr. Abdul Rahman Muhammad estimates the current inflation rate, which is considered a stage of severe “recession inflation,” as follows: Estimates indicate that the annual inflation rate in the first quarter of 2026 is heading toward approaching about 100% or more, warning that some cautious forecasts indicate the possibility of recording inflation exceeding 124%. He summarizes the economic and social repercussions as follows: Erosion of purchasing power: The direct and most severe result is the collapse of the purchasing power of the Syrian citizen, as salaries and wages are no longer able to keep up with the insane rise in prices, which prompts families to reduce their consumption of basic materials and dispense with some of them. Decreased demand for purchases: The irony is that prices rise while demand for purchases decreases by rates of up to 40%, as happened at the beginning of Ramadan, which reflects a state of stagflation, where rising prices combine with a depressed market. Exacerbating poverty and unemployment: These conditions bury any hope for a rapid improvement in the standard of living, and increase poverty and unemployment rates, which are heading towards record levels that may reach 60% of the labor force in deteriorating scenarios. Expectations for annual inflation: Researcher Muhammad Al-Salloum expects that the general annual inflation rate in Syria may currently range between 40 and 70 percent, while food inflation in some commodities could reach higher levels that may approach 60 to 100 percent, with noticeable disparities between regions and governorates. The repercussions of this wave, according to Al-Salloum’s opinion, go beyond the purely economic aspect and directly affect the social dimension. The phenomenon of “food poverty” is gradually expanding, as many families are forced to reduce the consumption of proteins and fruits and shift towards cheaper, lower-quality goods, sometimes of unknown origin, with potential health impacts in the medium term. The acceleration of prices also weakens the ability of producers and traders to plan, expands the size of the informal economy, and enhances the phenomenon of pricing based on foreign currencies or replacement cost, according to Al-Salloum. What are the effects? Dr. Abdul Rahman Muhammad said that the economic impacts following the inflation wave are: Decline in local production: High costs and economic infeasibility prompt many farmers and producers to reduce their agricultural areas or stop working, which increases dependence on imports and creates a vicious circle in rising prices. Expansion of the parallel market and weakness of the formal economy: Hyperinflation leads to a loss of confidence in the national currency, increases dollarization (dealing in foreign currencies), and expands the black market at the expense of the organized economy. Savings depletion: Citizens lose any cash savings they had, eliminating any opportunity to build domestic capital that can be invested in the future. Demands to support production and monitor markets. Dr. Abdul Rahman Muhammad proposed a set of urgent solutions, which are considered a package of urgent and strategic policies: Direct intervention to support production: Instead of indiscriminate support for goods, we must move towards “smart cash support” for the most needy citizens in parallel with supporting production requirements for local farmers and industrialists (fertilizers, seeds, and fuel) to increase supply and break the cycle of monopoly. Monitoring markets and breaking monopoly: Activating the role of the Ministry of Internal Trade and Consumer Protection to monitor supply chains from farm to consumer, and firmly confront the monopoly of middlemen and illegal price speculation. Working to stabilize the exchange rate: Inflation cannot be controlled without a serious attempt to control the foreign exchange market by enhancing hard currency reserves and creating transparent mechanisms for the flow of foreign remittances and investments. A national strategy for economic transformation: moving from a policy of “crisis management” to “growth industry” by developing ambitious plans to achieve food and energy sovereignty, investing in Syrian human capital at home and abroad, and transforming the economy from rentier to productive. Smart support mechanisms: Economic researcher Muhammad Al-Salloum believes that, at the treatment level, the realistic approach requires combining short-term emergency measures with deeper, gradual reforms. In the near term, there appears to be an urgent need to target basic food commodities with smart and focused support mechanisms, in addition to reviewing import restrictions related to critical goods and inputs, and adjusting profit margins in mediation circles in proportion to the actual cost. As for the medium term, the relative stability of prices remains dependent on reducing local production costs in the agriculture, poultry, and food processing sectors, improving the exchange rate environment, and building a more effective partnership between the state, the private sector, and civil society to manage the food security file, especially in sensitive seasons in which demand rises, such as the month of Ramadan. Related
