First Aramco Cargo Docks
A tanker named Starling reached the Banias oil terminal on the Syrian coast on 19 October 2026, carrying 63,784 metric tons of diesel, known locally as mazut. Officials in Tartus province described the cargo as the first fuel shipment delivered to Syria by Saudi energy giant Aramco.
The delivery marks the start of a supply arrangement intended to ease chronic fuel shortfalls as the country heads into the winter heating season.
A Deal Signed in October
The shipment puts into effect an agreement reached between the state-run Syrian Petroleum Company and Aramco, signed on 11 October 2026. The accord is aimed at covering part of domestic fuel needs and deepening energy cooperation between the two sides.
Officials framed the cargo as the first concrete result of that understanding, with further deliveries expected to follow.
First Letter of Credit in 14 Years
The purchase was financed through what authorities called the first letter of credit issued in Syria in 14 years, processed by the Central Bank of Syria in coordination with a major United States bank. The mechanism signals a tentative reconnection of Syrian trade finance to the international banking system after years of isolation.
Restoring tools such as letters of credit is central to paying for imports in US dollars (USD) without relying on informal channels.
Relief for Fuel-Starved Provinces
The provinces of Hama, Aleppo and Idlib have faced acute diesel shortages in recent weeks, with near-empty filling stations and complaints about substandard, adulterated fuel blamed for damaging vehicle engines. Some station operators reported that deliveries were delayed even after payment.
Days before the Starling arrived, the Syrian Petroleum Company began unloading a separate tanker carrying 29,964 metric tons of diesel at the same terminal, part of a push to rebuild stocks.