Syria's poultry sector eyes Gulf comeback as production restarts

 

Syria's poultry industry is showing early signs of recovery after years of steep decline driven by soaring production costs and the widespread exit of small and medium-sized farmers, according to the local publication Almodon.

Syrian producers have begun re-entering Gulf markets, with one poultry company having already exported its first shipment of 40 tonnes of chicken meat to Qatar.

Mahmoud Abd Al-Rahim, chief executive of Al Radef Trading & Contracting WLL, said his company is preparing additional export contracts, including a planned shipment to Kuwait next month, with volumes depending on demand and signed agreements.

The company produces around 2 million chickens annually, with production cycles lasting roughly 40 days and output reaching up to 400,000 birds per cycle, allowing it to serve both domestic and export markets, he said.

Syria used to export poultry to Gulf countries during the 2010s, but sales to foreign customers stopped when the war began.

Sector shifts from recovery to exports
Fadel Haj Hashem, director general of Syria's Poultry Establishment, a state-owned body under the Ministry of Agriculture, said the sector is now moving from domestic recovery to renewed export activity.

He added that recent shipments of chicken meat and poultry products demonstrate that Syrian producers can compete internationally in terms of quality and compliance with health standards.

Exports, he said, are not intended to raise domestic prices but to balance supply and demand during periods of excess production. Access to foreign markets also provides farmers with additional income while generating much-needed foreign currency.

Authorities are also working to simplify administrative procedures and monitor input costs in an effort to stabilise prices. Stable feed, energy and transport costs remain essential to maintaining competitiveness, Hashem added.

Recovery continues despite ongoing challenges
Industry data suggests the Syrian poultry sector is recovering, although it remains below pre-war levels. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Syrian poultry meat production reached about 169,000 tonnes in 2024, up nearly 59% year on year, while egg production rose around 40% to 136,000 tonnes. However, output remains below the 2011 peak of roughly 191,000 tonnes.

Nizar Saad Al-Din, head of the Central Poultry Committee at the Federation of Agricultural Chambers, said about 80% of farmers have returned to production, with 76% of farms now operational, compared with just 36% the previous year.

He said current market conditions show a temporary production surplus, but exports have helped maintain price stability rather than push prices higher, with most farmers still selling close to production cost.

Saad Al-Din added that renewed access to Gulf markets, including Qatar and Kuwait, could eventually generate tens of millions of dollars in export revenue each year for the Syrian poultry industry.

However, local publication Almodon cautioned that sustained recovery depends on tackling structural cost pressures, particularly high feed prices, veterinary inputs, energy costs and financing constraints.

"Without addressing these issues, the current rebound risks stalling before it becomes a stable growth phase," the publication said.