Skip to main content

Jihadi group raises prices in Syria’s Idlib as war rages in Ukraine

While some believe the Russian war on Ukraine has upped prices in northwest Syria, others accuse Hayat Tahrir al-Sham of exploiting the crisis to make gains.
A street vendor displays pastries and bread, as Syrians buy food products at a market ahead of iftar, the evening meal that ends the daily fast at sunset, on the second day of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, Ariha, Idlib province, Syria, April 15, 2021.

The bakeries and grains department of the Syrian Salvation Government affiliated with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), in Syria’s northwestern province of Idlib, reduced March 5 the weight of a bundle of bread by 100 grams, down to 650 grams, pricing the eight loaves at 5 Turkish liras ($0.34).

The move follows a hike in the price of flour imported from Turkey in tandem with the rise in the global price of fuels in light of the Russian war on Ukraine. The price rise in Idlib also hit several imported items such as sugar, vegetable oils, ghee and grains. All this comes amid a plummeting exchange rate of the Turkish lira against the US dollar.

Sugar, a basic baking staple, became almost nonexistent in Idlib before the Salvation Government announced that a new batch of products would soon arrive in the area, but at new prices. The government cited a global crisis and the expiry of some contracts. Thus, it seems HTS has created a crisis in the area and fabricated its solution in a maneuver aimed to inject some funds into its treasury.

HTS restricts the import of sugar to its areas of control to three traders close to it. It also forces them to buy the sugar HTS imports through other traders in the Turkish city of Mersin — which is then transported to Bab al-Hawa crossing — at the prices it specifies, with a $200 per ton difference from the original price.

The rise in the prices of daily consumables such as bread, foodstuffs, vegetables, animal derivatives, fuel and transportation has been exhausting civilians in northwestern Syria, where the worker's daily income ranges on an average between 20 liras and 30 liras ($1.35-$2.03). Amid the price rise, this average is no longer commensurate with the spending value. Hundreds of residents turned to sifting through landfills for plastic, metal or cardboard waste to sell them in order to make ends meet.

A media activist in Idlib told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity, “This is not the only crisis hitting the area because of HTS’ policies that exclude competitors and monopolize the supply and trade of basic commodities. HTS does not care about food security in northern Syria. The chambers of commerce and industry — which grant merchants entry cards to Turkey in return for a set amount — are not renewing contracts with suppliers to import sugar or other basic goods, such as wheat, before their expiry.”

He added, “The other cause for the scarcity of sugar in Idlib is the smuggling of large sugar shipments toward areas controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) by merchants close to HTS in coordination with Newroz Consumer Company, which monopolizes the import and trade of sugar in SDF-controlled areas.”

Fadel Abdul-Ghani, director of the Syrian Network for Human Rights, told Al-Monitor, “The rise in prices in Idlib is due to HTS’ exploitation of the Russian-Ukrainian crisis. The consequences of this war cannot affect Syria immediately, but the local prices of basic materials have risen since the first day of the war in Ukraine.”

He said, “Also, revenues from the crossings and trade in Idlib flow directly to HTS’ treasuries with no financial reports being published on HTS’ economic plan, under which HTS raised prices and did not subsidize basic materials amid the poor living conditions in the area. There is no authority that can hold HTS accountable for its lack of transparency.” 

Moreover, Watad Petroleum company, which monopolizes the fuel imported to Idlib city under the control of HTS, also raised fuel prices. The price of a gas cylinder jumped from $12 to $12.63. The price of 1 liter (0.26 gallons) of top-tier imported gasoline rose from $0.957 to $0.994, and 1 liter of second-quality imported diesel has increased to $0.970 from $0.920.

In mid-December, the company had set the price of fuel in US dollars, which was denounced by activists in northwestern Syria. HTS prevents other companies from importing fuel from the areas controlled by the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army factions in the countryside of Aleppo, or importing it from Turkey.

Orabi Abdel Hay Orabi, researcher at the Jusoor Center for Studies, told Al-Monitor, “Although HTS usually monopolizes foodstuffs and raises prices, this time it was not behind the rise in flour and fuel prices. This was caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. One may even say that prices in Idlib have not risen in proportion to outcomes of the Russian-Ukrainian crisis.”

Morshed al-Nayef, a Turkey-based freelance economic expert who writes for several Arab newspapers, agrees with Orabi. “The turmoil that led to the rise in global oil prices caused an increase in transportation fees of all materials and led to a global economic crisis,” he told Al-Monitor. 

He noted, “The damage caused to the wheat supply chains in Ukraine has upped the price of bread and oil in Idlib. The controlling power cannot be held responsible for this."

Join hundreds of Middle East professionals with Al-Monitor PRO.

Business and policy professionals use PRO to monitor the regional economy and improve their reports, memos and presentations. Try it for free and cancel anytime.

Already a Member? Sign in

Free

The Middle East's Best Newsletters

Join over 50,000 readers who access our journalists dedicated newsletters, covering the top political, security, business and tech issues across the region each week.
Delivered straight to your inbox.

Free

What's included:
Our Expertise

Free newsletters available:

  • The Takeaway & Week in Review
  • Middle East Minute (AM)
  • Daily Briefing (PM)
  • Business & Tech Briefing
  • Security Briefing
  • Gulf Briefing
  • Israel Briefing
  • Palestine Briefing
  • Turkey Briefing
  • Iraq Briefing
Expert

Premium Membership

Join the Middle East's most notable experts for premium memos, trend reports, live video Q&A, and intimate in-person events, each detailing exclusive insights on business and geopolitical trends shaping the region.

$25.00 / month
billed annually

Become Member Start with 1-week free trial
What's included:
Our Expertise AI-driven

Memos - premium analytical writing: actionable insights on markets and geopolitics.

Live Video Q&A - Hear from our top journalists and regional experts.

Special Events - Intimate in-person events with business & political VIPs.

Trend Reports - Deep dive analysis on market updates.

All premium Industry Newsletters - Monitor the Middle East's most important industries. Prioritize your target industries for weekly review:

  • Capital Markets & Private Equity
  • Venture Capital & Startups
  • Green Energy
  • Supply Chain
  • Sustainable Development
  • Leading Edge Technology
  • Oil & Gas
  • Real Estate & Construction
  • Banking

We also offer team plans. Please send an email to pro.support@al-monitor.com and we'll onboard your team.

Already a Member? Sign in

Business & Tech Briefing Business & Tech Briefing

Business & Tech Briefing

Middle East venture, M&A and economics in your inbox

Trend Reports

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (4th R) attends a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping (3rd L) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on February 22, 2019. (Photo by HOW HWEE YOUNG / POOL / AFP) (Photo credit should read HOW HWEE YOUNG/AFP via Getty Images)
Premium

From roads to routers: The future of China-Middle East connectivity

A general view shows the solar plant in Uyayna, north of Riyadh, on March 29, 2018. - On March 27, Saudi announced a deal with Japan's SoftBank to build the world's biggest solar plant. (Photo by FAYEZ NURELDINE / AFP) (Photo credit should read FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images)
Premium

Regulations on Middle East renewable energy industry starting to take shape

Start your PRO membership today.

Join the Middle East's top business and policy professionals to access exclusive PRO insights today.

Join Al-Monitor PRO Start with 1-week free trial