Two Ships, 32,000 Head
Two commercial vessels arrived at Syria's Tartus port on 12 May 2026 carrying a combined 32,000 head of sheep and calves shipped from Romania and bound overland for Jordan. The first vessel carried 500 calves and 15,000 male sheep, while the second held 16,000 additional sheep, with offloading conducted under port authority and customs supervision.
The cargo moved through Tartus as transit, meaning it was not destined for the Syrian market but used Syrian territory as a corridor between its European origin and its Jordanian buyer.
Veterinary Checks Before Departure
Muhannad Qaddour, head of the directorate of animal health and production, said the offloading was carried out under the supervision of the port administration and the General Authority of Border Crossings and Customs. Each consignment underwent detailed veterinary screening to confirm the livestock were fit for onward overland transport to Jordan.
Customs Director on Rising Transit
Riad Joudi, the customs director at Tartus port, said the shipment "reflects a rise in transit traffic through the port" and reinforces its position as a logistics hub that regional shipping firms depend on. He linked the activity to a broader stimulation of commercial flow and to local economic gains tied to handling, customs processing, and ancillary services.
Logistics Revival on the Mediterranean
The arrival highlights Tartus's repositioning as a transit point for Mediterranean cargo aimed at Levantine markets. Officials presented the consignment as a marker of regional confidence in the port and described the activity as contributing to commercial flow and to support for the local economy, even as the Syrian pound (SYP) traded around 13,680 against the US dollar (USD) on 13 May 2026.