Syria has strengthened its wheat reserves following a poor harvest this year, with more than 134,000 tons of wheat arriving at the ports of Lattakia and Tartous on five ships, officials said Tuesday.

The shipments are part of a regular plan to bolster food security and supply the country’s mills with subsidized flour across multiple governorates, the Syrian Grain Corporation said.

Years of drought have affected Syria’s wheat production, the country’s strategic crop, necessitating large-scale imports to meet domestic demand.

Hasan Othman, Director General of the Syrian Grain Corporation, said the ships arrived from Ukraine and Russia to secure supplies for bread production. “We continuously monitor deliveries to ensure the required quantities arrive without interruption,” he added.

Othman noted that unloading, transport, and storage operations are conducted under strict procedures and coordinated with relevant authorities to maintain wheat quality and meet daily mill requirements.

Earlier this month, on November 9, three ships carrying over 70,000 tons of wheat arrived at Tartous port. The deliveries were part of a series of contracts the Syrian Grain Corporation signed with private companies to secure the country’s wheat supply.