Syria Hikes Fuel Prices by up to 30%, Threatening Household Budgets

Fuel price increase and official rationale

On May 7 the Syrian Petroleum Company raised retail prices for diesel, 90- and 95-octane gasoline and household and industrial gas cylinders by roughly 17–30%. A litre of first-grade diesel moved to $0.88 (117.05 SYP), 90-octane to $1.10 (146.3 SYP) and 95-octane to $1.15 (152.95 SYP); household gas cylinders rose to $12.5 (1,662.5 SYP) and industrial cylinders to $20 (2,660 SYP). Officials linked the decision to global supply pressures and higher oil prices and said continued subsidies had cost the state about $219 million per month, prompting the adjustment. The bulletin set the dollar exchange rate at 133 new Syrian pounds.

Experts warn of wider economic fallout

Economic analysts told Enab Baladi the rise will deepen the erosion of Syrians’ purchasing power and set off a broad wave of price increases. Majdi al-Jamous said the burden is being shifted onto citizens and warned of arbitrary market pricing, factory closures and loss of competitiveness with imports. Ammar Youssef estimated the measure could effectively translate into a 50–60% increase in local market prices due to higher transport and production costs, and urged temporary state support to avoid harsher long-term damage. Experts reported signs of price instability within hours of the decision and cautioned that short-term fiscal gains may be outweighed by lasting economic losses, as reported by Enab Baladi