The Ministry of Economy has suspended the import of certain types of vegetables to support local production in Syria.

Mohammed Al-Aqad, Deputy Head of the Committee of Vegetable and Fruit Merchants and Exporters in Damascus, confirmed that the Ministry of Economy's decision to halt the import of certain types of vegetables starting from the beginning of June 2025 is a correct decision and came at an appropriate time.

Al-Aqad explained that the aim of the decision is to encourage farmers to increase agriculture and local production, pointing out that there is a surplus of most types of summer vegetables that cover and exceed the market's needs, making imports unnecessary at the moment.

Al-Aqad called for a similar decision to be issued regarding the import of certain types of fruits, such as apples and watermelons, considering Syria as a producer of these varieties, in order to support local production and stimulate the domestic market.

Economy and Industry Minister Mohammed Nidal Al-Sha'ar issued a decision to stop importing the following vegetables: tomatoes, cucumbers, potatoes, zucchinis, eggplants, onions, and garlic, starting from June 1, 2025.

Regarding exports, Al-Aqad pointed out a significant increase in the quantity of exported vegetables and fruits compared to the previous period, where exports did not exceed 5 refrigerated trucks per day, and now have risen to about 30 trucks loaded with vegetables and fruits heading daily to Gulf countries, in addition to 7 trucks loaded with fruits exported to Iraq.

He emphasized that this increase reflects the peak of production and the development of the export capacity of the Syrian market at the present time.