Syria fuel price hikes test public patience with economic recovery

What the report says

Protests over fuel price increases have spread across several Syrian cities and towns, with demonstrators blocking roads and burning tyres in response to a government decision that raised energy costs. Al Jazeera reported that the unrest began on Sunday and was triggered by a hike of about 40% for diesel, at least 25% for petrol and around 9% for cooking gas. The government has said the increases are temporary and linked to higher refined fuel prices after regional conflict, while parliament has summoned Energy Minister Mohammed al-Bashir over the issue.

The price changes are landing amid a broader cost-of-living crisis in a country where poverty remains extremely high and many households still have not seen much improvement since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government in December 2024. Syria’s new leadership under President Ahmed al-Sharaa has focused on sanctions relief and international reintegration, and some restrictions have been lifted by the US, EU and others. Even so, residents and analysts say those changes have not yet translated into cheaper essentials or stronger purchasing power.

The article notes that Syria still depends heavily on imported fuel because domestic production and refining capacity fall short of demand. The government says it is working to upgrade the Baniyas refinery and expand storage and processing capacity over time. The protests matter because they suggest patience with the recovery effort is thinning, especially among lower-income Syrians who are most exposed to inflation and transport-linked price increases.