Syria’s General Directorate of Land and Sea Borders confirmed the arrival of the vessel, carrying 6,600 tons of wheat. The statement did not specify the ship’s nationality or destination, but a regional commodity trader told Reuters that the cargo originated from Russia.
Traders said Syria has largely depended this year on overland wheat imports from neighboring countries.
Russia and Iran, both of which were staunch supporters of Assad’s regime, had previously supplied most of Syria’s wheat and petroleum products. These deliveries stopped after Assad fled to Moscow following the rebel takeover.
Syria’s new government, led by President Ahmad al-Sharaa, is now focused on rebuilding the country’s war-torn economy after 14 years of conflict, journalists wrote.
Officials from the new Islamist-led administration said that although the import of wheat and other essential food products is not subject to US or UN sanctions, difficulties in securing financing for trade deals are deterring many international suppliers from selling to Syria.
As previously reported, two US-sanctioned tankers delivered Russian Arctic oil to Syria for the first time in March.
That same month, Russia also sent diesel fuel to Syria — the first known direct shipment to the Middle Eastern country in over a decade.