Markets across Damascus have been experiencing severe price fluctuations in an unusually short period, affecting everything from basic foodstuffs to daily household essentials. The reasons for these shifts vary, from instability in the exchange rate of the Syrian pound against the US dollar to monopolistic practices by merchants. When it comes to fruits and vegetables, prices are largely dictated by seasonal availability.
Reasons for Price Fluctuations
Maher Darras, 35, told +963, “I work for a private company and have a fixed salary. I try to plan my expenses paycheck to paycheck, but my plans often collapse due to daily price changes. Some food items I cannot buy in bulk because they spoil easily, especially with the ongoing electricity shortages.”
Muhammad al-Daghestani, 50, a food distributor in the Damascus countryside, said the daily price volatility stems from two main factors: the fluctuating exchange rate and the monopolies imposed by some merchants. “I have to check prices every day to avoid selling at a loss,” he told +963.
As for the merchants’ monopoly practices, al-Daghestani added, “I really do not understand the reasons, it seems driven by vague motives, possibly fuelled by rumours of upcoming price hikes.”
Meanwhile, in the Hama countryside, agricultural output is also under pressure. Abdul Aziz al-Qasim, Director General of the General Authority for al-Ghab Management and Development, revealed last month that more than 7,000 hectares of farmland had been removed from production this year.
In a statement to +963, al-Qasim said that 52,541 hectares were planted with wheat this season, 49,097 hectares irrigated and 3,444 rain-fed. “Of these, 7,782 hectares are entirely out of production, including 5,247 hectares of irrigated land and 2,535 hectares that rely on rain,” he noted.
He added that while 8,237 hectares remain in good condition, 23,717 hectares are only in average condition, and roughly 13,000 hectares are in poor shape.
Al-Qasim attributed this year’s decline largely to the absence of rainfall between February 20 and March 22, a critical period for crop growth.
Read also: Syrian Energy Minister Discusses Oil and Gas Investment with Turkish Delegation
Suffering and Confusion
Engineer Nisreen al-Shawaf shared her frustration over price disparities, saying, “I live in the al-Maysat neighbourhood of Damascus, where grocery prices are significantly higher than in other areas, so I shop in a nearby market instead. It might not seem worth the effort for just a kilo, but when buying multiple items in large quantities for the family, the savings are substantial.”
In Daraya, on the outskirts of Damascus, vegetable seller Muhammad Issa illustrated how prices are affected by supply cycles. “Today, garlic sells for between 5,000 and 10,000 Syrian pounds per kilo, depending on quality. Two weeks ago, it was 20,000 to 25,000. Right now, lemons are over 20,000 per kilo due to scarcity, but their price will drop in a few weeks as they come into season.”
He added, “Fruits and vegetables spoil quickly, and we cannot refrigerate them properly due to the electricity situation. When produce is about to go bad, we lower prices to sell it off faster.”
Shadi al-Basha, a lawyer living in Damascus’s Mazraa neighbourhood, told +963 that the persistent price swings have created confusion and hardship, especially for lower-income households. “Since commodity prices are tied closely to the dollar exchange rate, they will continue fluctuating until the economy stabilises,” he said.
At the same time, al-Basha stressed the need for authorities to issue daily price bulletins and intensify market monitoring, particularly at the wholesale level, as a necessary step to curbing monopolistic practices and standardising prices wherever possible.
