Tartous, Jan. 28 (SANA) Tartous Port is experiencing growing commercial and maritime activity, with more cargo vessels arriving and modernized loading and unloading operations improving efficiency and throughput.
According to the General Authority of Ports and Customs, the port operates under streamlined procedures that accelerate clearance and facilitate smoother logistics. This enhances capacity to meet rising demand in imports and exports, directly supporting the national economy and local market needs.
Port data show that between January and the end of August 2025, 594 ships docked at the port, carrying over 3.6 million tons of cargo, including 3 million tons of imports and over 600,000 tons of exports. Key imports included wheat, rice, iron, and timber.
In a major development last November, DP World, the Dubai-based port operator, officially launched operations at Tartous Port under a long-term concession agreement. This represents one of the largest foreign investments in the country and signals a new phase of modernization and expansion.
The first phase of the upgrade program focuses on evaluating and enhancing existing infrastructure, deepening channels, berths, and docks, upgrading handling equipment, and introducing advanced digital technologies to meet international standards.
Further expanding the port’s industrial capacity, Syrian authorities signed a strategic agreement with Turkish shipbuilder KUZEY STAR SHIPYARD – DENİZCİLİK SANAYİ VE TİCARET A.Ş on Jan. 15, 2026, to establish and operate a fully integrated shipyard at Tartous. The 30-year investment agreement commits the company to inject at least $190 million over five years to cover construction, equipment, docks, warehouses, and operational facilities, with no financial burden on Syrian authorities.
The shipyard is expected to bolster the maritime industry, strengthen Syria’s position in regional shipping and logistics, and attract further foreign investment. Together, these initiatives will transform Tartous Port into a fully integrated industrial and maritime hub on the Mediterranean, serving both domestic and regional markets.
M.S
