Damascus, Aug. 6 (SANA)Syrian portshave recorded a sharp increase inmaritime trafficsince the country’s liberation at theend of 2024, with vessel calls and cargo volumes rising significantly during the first half of 2026 as authorities press ahead with infrastructure upgrades and equipment modernization aimed at strengthening the ports’ role as regional trade gateways.

According to data recently released by theSyrian General Authority for Borders and Customs, the ports ofLatakia and Tartousreceived a combined 945 vessels during the first six months of the year, handling nearly 8 million metric tons of cargo, highlighting the recovery of maritime activity alongSyria’s Mediterranean coast.

ThePort of Tartousaccounted for the largest share of maritime traffic among Syria’s ports, receiving 551 vessels since the beginning of the year, including 472 generalcargo ships, 33 container vessels and 46 maintenance vessels.

Total cargo handled at the port reached nearly 5 million metric tons, including 3.9 million metric tons of imports and 1.1 million metric tons of exports, underscoring the port’s renewed role asSyria’s main maritime gatewayfor domestic trade and regional transit.

The authority said the increase in activity coincided with ongoinginfrastructure modernization, including upgrades to cranes and operational equipment aimed at speeding up cargo loading and unloading, reducing vessel turnaround times and expanding the port’s handling capacity.

At thePort of Latakia,official data showed continued growth in vessel traffic and cargo handling. The port received 394 vessels, including 182 general cargo ships, 186 container vessels, 23 maintenance vessels and three passenger ships.

Cargo handled totaled approximately 2.86 million metric tons, including 1.5 million metric tons of general cargo and 1.365 million metric tons of cargo carried in containers, while around 171,000 containers were processed during the period.

According to the authority, the increase was accompanied by simplified customs procedures, measures to facilitate imports and exports, expanded transit operations, and the introduction of modern equipment that improved operational efficiency and accelerated cargo-handling operations.

ThePort of Baniyascontinues to serve as Syria’s primary terminal for oil and gas imports for the domestic market, while also facilitating fuel exports to international markets.

According to theGeneral Authority for Borders and Customsand theMinistry of Energy,activity at the port has increased since April following the arrival ofIraqi fuel oil shipmentsdelivered by road tankers. On the first day of operations, 299 tanker trucks entered the port, where their cargoes were transferred to storage tanks before being loaded onto seagoing tankers for export.

The daily arrival of Iraqi fuel tankers forms part of efforts to diversify Iraq’s oil export routes amid disruptions to shipping through theStrait of Hormuz, officials said.

Separately,Syria and Iraqsigned a memorandum of understanding with international companies in late July to reactivate theKirkuk-Baniyas oil pipeline. Once operational, the pipeline is expected to resume Iraqi oil exports through Syria’s Mediterranean coast, strengthening the country’s role as a regional energy transit corridor.

The General Authority for Borders and Customs said it continues to implement programs tomodernize Syria’s ports, including infrastructure upgrades, improved equipment readiness, and enhanced logistics and customs services aimed at expanding port capacity and supporting maritime trade.

The increase inmaritime activitycomes as Syria seeks to revive its transport and logistics sectors and restore the role of its Mediterranean ports as key hubs for regional and international trade after years of declining shipping activity caused by the war, sanctions and damage to infrastructure.