Syria diesel shortage hits Aleppo and Idlib

Local media said the crisis is being driven by delayed oil shipments, while Syria’s state oil company said 15 tankers were waiting for permission to enter the country’s ports, including six carrying diesel and nine carrying gasoline. The bottleneck comes after months of fuel shortages nationwide that have already pushed up prices and sparked public anger.

For workers who depend on taxis and other transport to earn a living, the lack of fuel cuts directly into income. One taxi driver told local media diesel was expensive and often unavailable for days at a time, making business planning nearly impossible.

The shortage also raises the risk of broader economic disruption in a region still recovering from years of war and sanctions. When fuel is scarce, transport costs rise, heating becomes more expensive and supply chains slow, adding pressure to households that are already vulnerable before winter sets in.

Syria’s government cut diesel prices for heating and agriculture in September after protests over fuel costs, but the latest supply crunch suggests price moves alone are not enough without a steady flow of imports. For investors and traders, the episode underscores how quickly regional fuel balances can tighten when logistics stall, keeping attention on crude, refined-product supply and winter demand.