Syria’s coast fires increase prices of agricultural items

DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – The prices of olive oil and citrus in the Syrian capital Damascus increased significantly due to the recent fires that broke out on October 9 in the forests of the Syrian coast.

The pro-Syrian government al-Watan newspaper quoted Usama Qaziz, member of the Traders and Exporters Committee, as saying that “the latest fires will have a great effect on the prices of olives, olive oil, and citrus for this season.”

Qaziz noted that after the fires, the demand for olive oil has increased significantly for fear of the rise in prices.

The price of a 17 kg olive oil can reached SYP 100,000, while the price of one kilogram of oranges exceeded SYP 1,000 in Damascus.

The price of citrus may rise 100% this year as a result of the fires, according to Qaziz. 

According to official statistics, the losses of fruit trees due to the fires in Latakia governorate reached about 3.5 million olive trees and 1.5 million citrus trees.

Last week, the Syrian government announced that it fully controlled the fires which broke out in Latakia, Homs, and Tartus governorates. 

About 156 fires raged in Syria on October 9 and 10, Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, said at a press conference on October 12. 

There were about 95 fires in Latakia, 49 fires in Tartus, and 13 fires in Homs, according to the Syrian government’s Agriculture Ministry. 

Reporting by Wahid al-Attar