Report: Syria Accounts for More Than a Quarter of the Middle East's Fuel Oil Exports

Welat TV – Erbil

Syria has rapidly emerged as a major regional hub for the fuel oil trade, accounting for more than 25% of the Middle East's total fuel oil exports within just a few months.

According to a Bloomberg report published on Saturday, July 18, 2026, Iraq is relying on a large fleet of trucks to transport fuel oil across Syrian territory to Mediterranean ports, as it seeks to redirect exports away from the Strait of Hormuz, where shipping has been severely disrupted by the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran.

Bloomberg said the conflict has reshaped regional energy trade routes, reducing dependence on the Strait of Hormuz and significantly increasing Syria's importance as an alternative export corridor for Iraqi petroleum products.

Alternative to the Strait of Hormuz

The report attributed the shift to a combination of logistical and geopolitical factors. Iraq is seeking secure alternative routes for its petroleum exports as tensions in the Gulf continue to disrupt maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

As a result, Baghdad has increasingly relied on Syria's Baniyas Port on the Mediterranean to ship fuel supplies to international markets.

Growing Logistics Network

The report also highlighted the role of overland logistics, noting that thousands of trucks transport Iraqi fuel oil through Syria on a journey that takes approximately four days before reaching Mediterranean export terminals.

Redrawing Regional Energy Routes

Shipping data cited in the report showed that fuel oil exports have exceeded 600,000 metric tons, placing Syria among the top three fuel oil exporters in the Middle East, alongside Saudi Arabia and Oman, according to Reuters.

The report concluded that the growing logistical cooperation between Baghdad and Damascus is helping reshape traditional regional energy routes while providing Iraq with a more secure export corridor beyond the Arabian Gulf.

What is Fuel Oil?

Fuel oil is a heavy petroleum product derived from crude oil, commonly referred to as heavy fuel oil or mazut. It is primarily used for power generation, industrial heating, and as fuel for large marine vessels.