Classification
Product TypeRaw Material
Product FormFresh
Industry PositionPrimary Agricultural Product
Raw Material
Market
Fresh apples are a significant temperate fruit crop in Syria, grown across multiple governorates with both irrigated and rainfed production systems. Variety diversity supports a long marketing window, with production described as running from mid-June through November depending on cultivar. Syria is reported to have surplus production in some seasons and to export apples to selected regional and external markets. On the import side, Syria’s National Committee for Import and Export announced a seasonal prohibition on importing apples from 1 August to 31 October 2026 to protect domestic production.
Market RoleProducer market with seasonal export surpluses; import-restrictive during domestic season
Domestic RoleDomestic fresh fruit market supplied by highland orchards; production supports farmer incomes in multiple governorates
Market Growth
SeasonalityVariety mix supports a long season; production and marketing are reported from mid-June to November, with late-summer to autumn as a key supply window.
Specification
Primary VarietyStarking Delicious
Secondary Variety- Golden Delicious
- Sukkari (Soucary)
- Royal Gala
- Red Delicious
- Granny Smith
- Top Red
- Macintosh
Physical Attributes- Export-oriented lots commonly align to UNECE FFV-50 minimum requirements and class-based tolerances for soundness, cleanliness, and defect limits.
Grades- UNECE FFV-50 classes (Extra Class, Class I, Class II)
Packaging- Harvest commonly uses picking bags and plastic/polystyrene containers; larger orchards may use wooden pallet bins before grading/packing.
- Cartons or bin-based packing formats are used for domestic wholesale and export dispatch, depending on buyer requirements.
Supply Chain
Value Chain- Hand harvest (picking bags/field containers) → aggregation (incl. pallet bins in larger orchards) → grading and packing (manual; mechanized sorting in some large orchards) → domestic wholesale distribution and/or export dispatch
Freight IntensityMedium
Transport ModeMultimodal
Risks
Regulatory Compliance HighSeasonal import prohibition can fully block fresh apple entries into Syria during the announced window (1 August to 31 October 2026), creating a hard market-access stop for shipments planned for that period.Verify the latest National Committee for Import and Export decisions before contracting; avoid shipping to Syria during the restricted window or structure contracts with force majeure/regulatory-change clauses.
Climate HighDrought conditions and rainfall failure highlighted by FAO for the 2024/2025 season can reduce yields and fruit quality, increasing supply volatility and price risk for domestic and export programs.Diversify sourcing regions within Syria (irrigated vs. rainfed areas) and set quality/size flexibility in purchase specs for drought-affected seasons.
Pest And Disease MediumWoolly apple aphid infestation variability by cultivar has been documented in As-Sweida, and pest pressure can affect marketable quality and increase treatment intensity risks (including residue-management complexity).Require orchard-level IPM plans and spray records; align residue-management to destination-market MRLs and favor less-susceptible cultivar/rootstock choices where feasible.
Trade Finance MediumDespite changes in major sanctions frameworks since 2025, ongoing targeted designations and security-based restrictions can still trigger bank de-risking, counterparty screening hits, or payment delays for Syria-linked transactions.Screen all counterparties against current sanctions lists; use reputable trade-finance channels and obtain bank pre-clearance for Syria-linked payments.
Logistics MediumFresh apples require careful handling and timely transport; route disruptions and variable cold-chain availability can increase spoilage and downgrade risk for shipments moving domestically or for export dispatch.Use pre-cooling and reinforced packaging; select carriers with reefer capability and contingency routing; build realistic transit-time buffers and temperature-monitoring requirements into contracts.
Sustainability- Drought and rainfall failure risk affecting orchard water availability and productivity (FAO drought alert context for 2024/2025 season impacts).
- High pest pressure and constrained orchard protection practices reported in Damascus Countryside research, linked to conflict-era disruptions and high pesticide costs.
Labor & Social- Conflict-era disruption and input affordability constraints can contribute to orchard neglect and reduced pest control intensity (reported in Damascus Countryside apple GIS/pest mapping research).
FAQ
Are apple imports into Syria restricted seasonally?Yes. SANA reported that Syria’s National Committee for Import and Export prohibited importing apples from 1 August to 31 October 2026 as part of the agricultural calendar measures.
Which parts of Syria are reported as apple-growing areas?A Syria apple crop profile lists apple cultivation across several governorates, including Damascus Countryside (Rif Dimashq), Suwayda, Homs, Tartous, Lattakia, Idlib, Hama and Quneitra.
Which apple varieties are commonly referenced for Damascus Countryside and broader Syria?Damascus Countryside research reported Starking Delicious and Golden Delicious as the most widespread varieties in mapped areas, followed by the local Sukkari. A Syria crop profile also lists cultivars such as Red Delicious, Granny Smith, Royal Gala and Top Red among others.
What is a documented pest risk for Syrian apple orchards?Research from As-Sweida Governorate documented woolly apple aphid (Eriosoma lanigerium) infestation patterns by cultivar and evaluated chemical control options, indicating that pest pressure can vary by variety and affect orchard performance.