Ground transport to Syria resumes slightly

Insurance fees double

Ground transportation to Syria forms 30 percent of its past shipping activity, currently totaling around 45 trucks per day, according to Khaled Farshoukh, Head of Industrial Exports Development Council.

“The deteriorating security in Syria led to the increase in transport and insurance fees, which rose by 100 percent,” he said. Insurance policies do not cover war, accidents, and theft.

Ground shipping fees went up between 30 and 40 percent during the last few months. Shipping from Lebanon to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar costs at least $1,800, $2,200, and $2,800, respectively.

Merchants who are using maritime shipping also face higher fees, especially from Saudi Arabian authorities for forwarding services and at the seaport. These fees have doubled the cost of sea freight, said Farshoukh.

Falcon Shipping had launched ro-ro trips to Saudi Arabia through Egyptian ports, last May. “But since the international road going through Syria has been reopened, we ended these trips, especially since they are much more expensive for farmers sending refrigerated trucks to Arab countries,” Ghada Ahmad, Operations Manager at Falcon Shipping, said.