Syria Devalues Local Currency after Sacking Central Bank Governor

Syrian pounds are stacked inside an exchange currency shop in Azaz, Syria, Feb. 3, 2020. Reuters file photo
Syrian pounds are stacked inside an exchange currency shop in Azaz, Syria, Feb. 3, 2020. Reuters file photo
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Syria Devalues Local Currency after Sacking Central Bank Governor

Syrian pounds are stacked inside an exchange currency shop in Azaz, Syria, Feb. 3, 2020. Reuters file photo
Syrian pounds are stacked inside an exchange currency shop in Azaz, Syria, Feb. 3, 2020. Reuters file photo

Syria devalued the pound on Thursday, bringing the currency's official exchange rate closer to the black market rate, two days after the central bank governor was sacked.

The pound was now officially valued at 2,512 to the US dollar from around 1,250 previously, central bank data showed. The black market rate is more than 3,000 to the greenback.

The move means the Syrian currency has officially shed more than 98 percent of its value since the start of the country's civil war in 2011.

It follows the government's decision to dismiss central bank governor Hazem Karfoul on Tuesday after a three-year tenure that coincided with a severe economic crisis.

The pound stood at 47 pounds to the dollar before the conflict.

Syria last devalued the pound in June 2020, giving in to weeks of depreciation on the black market as new US sanctions took effect.

The country's war-battered economy is now reeling from the knock-on effects of a financial crisis in neighboring Lebanon that has stemmed the flow of dollars into regime-held areas.

Syrians are believed to have billions of dollars blocked in Lebanese banks that have imposed harsh capital controls since late 2019.

The regime of Bashar al-Assad also blames Western sanctions against Syria for the economic crisis.

The average salary in Syria is about 90,000 pounds ($29) per month making it difficult for many Syrians to survive.

The economic crunch has plunged millions into food insecurity nationwide, as food has over the years become 33 times more expensive than before the war, UN figures show.



Mawani Reports 13% Growth in Container Handling at Ports in May 2025

Mawani Reports 13% Growth in Container Handling at Ports in May 2025
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Mawani Reports 13% Growth in Container Handling at Ports in May 2025

Mawani Reports 13% Growth in Container Handling at Ports in May 2025

Ports supervised by the Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) recorded a 13% increase in container handling during May 2025, reaching 720,684 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), compared with 639,736 TEUs in the same period last year.

Transshipment containers increased by 12.89%, totaling 149,143 TEUs compared to 132,112 last year. Imports also grew by 15.84%, reaching 292,223 TEUs, compared to 252,265 TEUs in May 2024, SPA reported.

Outgoing containers increased by 9.38%, totaling 279,318 TEUs compared to 255,359 TEUs in the same month last year.

Total handled cargo—including general cargo, solid bulk, and liquid bulk—increased by 1.40% to reach 21,337,699 tons, up from 21,042,684 tons in the corresponding period of 2024. This total includes 935,932 tons of general cargo, 5,059,899 tons of solid bulk cargo, and 15,341,868 tons of liquid bulk cargo.

The ports also received 1,635,489 heads of livestock, marking a 61.22% increase from 1,014,417 in the same period last year. Maritime traffic rose by 9.39%, with 1,083 vessels received compared to 990 last year. Passenger numbers increased by 68.15% to 95,231, up from 56,636 in May 2024. The number of vehicles grew by 13.09% to 84,352, compared to 74,590 last year.