Syrian public sector's exports decline by 30%
Syria, Economics, 4/24/1999

It seems that the year of 1998 marks a bad recession in the Syrian exports, especially oil. But in order not to blame oil for the whole recession of exports we have to know that Syrian non-oil exports decreased 19% from the already "humbled" exports of 1997.

With the recession in oil exports, the recession had already deacreased exports by 30% in 1997. However, the recession in exports has become a characteristic linked to exports due to the inablility to carry out the government's set plan, which estimated the exports of the public sector for 1998 at a cost of US $1.268 billion, excluding light oil, while actual exports value reached US $1.1 billion, reaching 87% of the goal.

The light oil value of Syrian exports are estimated at US $2.2 billion, whereas the set plan states the exportation value is estimated at US $2.7 billion, representing an implementation rate estimated at 82%.

The set plan then estimated the cost of the exported oil at US $1.4 billion. On the other hand, Syrian industry is healthy. Industrial exports for 1998 increased by 66% over the figures of 1997. Such a remarkable increase is due to the increase in foodstuffs industries, especially water and oils. The country's industrial establishments exports during 1998 were estimated at US $126.4 million while its exports in 1997 they were estimated at US $64.3 million.

Concerning the Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade, the ministry said the cereal establishments' exports decreased by 53% in comparison to the figures of 1997. The ministry's exports for 1997 were estimated at US $281. It was US $131 million. The ministry's set plan for 1998 called for exports at a cost of US $238 million, whereas actual exports reached US $131, reaching 56% of the goal. The ministry's exports are as follows for 1998: cereals US $118 million, the meat company US $13 million and the vegetable company US $8 million.

As for the Ministry of the Economy, exports have not receded. During 1997 and 1998, the exports were nearly US $292 million and were close to the set plan of US $322 million, reaching 91% of the goal. Exports of the cotton establishment share at a cost of US $288 million and the tobacco establishments' exports were estimated at US $3.7 million.

Concerning agriculture, exports of the Ministry of Agriculture increased by 21% in 1998 over the figures of 1997. In 1998 the exports were at a cost of US $1.04 million, whereas the ministry's exports for 1997 were US $862,000. The agricultural ministry's exports were made through the seeds multiplication establishment of US $631,000 and the poultry general establishment of US $415,000.

Among Syrian establishments that achieved the best revenues are the Banias refinery which produced 162% of its set plan, the general establishment of foodstuffs industry produced 191%, the phosphate general company produced 103% the fuel company v 89%; the asphalt company produced 100% and the cotton spinning produced 91%.

From the above mentioned data it can be said that Syrian exports are so limited and so poor to the extent that only three materials constitute 81% of the public sector's total exports, oil, cotton and wheat, which are all raw materials.

However industrial exports are confined to the exports of the Ministry of Industry which exported in total materials at a cost of US $126 million for six industrial establishments including some 100 industrial companies. On average each company's exports are estimated at less than US $1 million.

In the language of analysis, it can be said that the drastic recession in oil prices is the main reason behind the retreat in the Syrian exports. Added to this are also the hard season of drought in Syria which has limited cereal exports as well as the internationally lowed prices of several products, especially cotton.

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search