Russia establishes grain hub in Syria for exports to Middle Eastern countries

Russia plans to launch a commercial logistics hub at Syria’s Port of Tartus in mid-July. The hub is expected to handle a wide range of Russian products, including wheat, other grains, compound feed, vegetable oils, timber, steel, coal, rice and sugar. Initial cargo throughput is estimated at 250 thsd tons per month, Reuters reports.

The project is being implemented by Syrian logistics company Rus Line in cooperation with Russian companies that are members of the Russian-Syrian Business Council. According to Rus Line CEO Jinan Mubadda, the logistics centre will operate at the fourth berth of the Port of Tartus, while another berth will remain under the control of the Russian Navy.

The first commercial operations could begin in mid-July with the shipment of about 30 thsd tons of grain. A regular shipping route between Novorossiysk and Tartus is expected to follow, supplying Syria, Iraq and Jordan, and later Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain.

However, reports about the creation of the Russian commercial hub have sparked controversy. After Reuters published the story, Syria’s General Authority for Ports and Customs stated that reports claiming Russia would manage the logistics centre in Tartus were inaccurate. The authority stressed that any decisions regarding Syrian ports would be announced exclusively through official government channels.

According to Syrian customs data, around 85% of Syria’s imported wheat in the MY 2025/26, or 2.9 mln tons, originated from Russia and Ukraine’s Crimea, which is occupied by Russia. The launch of the new logistics route could further strengthen the position of Russian grain in Syria and neighbouring Middle Eastern markets.

Tags: export, Saudi Arabia, grain terminal, Syria, Iraq, Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, Bahrain, Russia