Syria’s poultry market is facing growing turbulence, with prices jumping by nearly a third over the past month and weighing on consumer demand. Industry participants say outbreaks of Newcastle disease and, more recently, a spike in feed costs linked to tensions in the Middle East are among the main drivers.
The average retail price of chicken has recently reached about 30,000 Syrian pounds (€2.5) per kg, up from around 22,000 Syrian pounds per kg a month earlier, local news outlet SANA reported, citing the results of its market survey.
Over the past several months, the Syrian poultry industry has been hit by a series of disease outbreaks affecting numerous farms. Local veterinarian Murtada Hassan Reda told Enab Baladi that the outbreaks were caused by Newcastle disease, which is not dangerous to humans.
However, according to the publication, a lack of transparency from government officials regarding the veterinary situation in the poultry sector has undermined consumer confidence. Rumours have been circulating in Syrian society that infected poultry potentially harmful to humans is being sold in retail outlets.
The Syrian Health Ministry recently issued a statement refuting those claims and assuring consumers that poultry available on the market is safe, though many buyers remain unconvinced.
Syrian poultry farmers are also facing increased competition from cheap imported frozen poultry after the government allowed imports at the end of 2025. Ma’an Al-Saqqa, the owner of a poultry farm, told local media that the unexpected influx of frozen chickens, chicks and hatching eggs has flooded the market, prompting many breeders to consider culling their flocks before the end of the production cycle.
Despite the recent increase in retail prices, many poultry farmers are currently operating at a loss, Al-Saqqa warned. The sector is going through a particularly difficult period, with some farms suspending operations in the past four months, according to Fadel Haj Hashem, director general of the General Poultry Corporation.
In recent weeks, poultry producers have also been struggling with rising feed costs linked to the escalating conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran. Syria’s feed industry relies heavily on imported raw materials, largely due to decades of conflict that have weakened the country’s domestic agricultural production.
According to various market reports, the price of key feed ingredients such as corn and soybeans on the local market has increased by roughly 20-25% since the start of the latest escalation.
Facts Only
The average retail price of chicken in Syria has increased to about 30,000 Syrian pounds (€2.5) per kg, up from 22,000 Syrian pounds per kg a month earlier.
Outbreaks of Newcastle disease have affected numerous poultry farms in Syria over the past several months.
Newcastle disease is not dangerous to humans, according to local veterinarian Murtada Hassan Reda.
The Syrian government has allowed imports of frozen poultry, chicks, and hatching eggs since the end of 2025.
The influx of imported frozen poultry has led some local breeders to consider culling their flocks early.
The Syrian Health Ministry has stated that poultry available on the market is safe for consumption.
Rumors persist in Syrian society that infected poultry harmful to humans is being sold in retail outlets.
Poultry feed costs in Syria have risen by roughly 20-25% due to escalating regional conflicts.
Syria’s feed industry relies heavily on imported raw materials, including corn and soybeans.
Some poultry farms in Syria have suspended operations in the past four months.
Fadel Haj Hashem, director general of the General Poultry Corporation, confirmed the sector is facing significant difficulties.
The Syrian government has been accused of lacking transparency regarding the veterinary situation in the poultry sector.
Executive Summary
Syria’s poultry market is experiencing significant disruption, with retail chicken prices surging by nearly 30% in the past month, reaching approximately 30,000 Syrian pounds (€2.5) per kilogram. The spike is attributed to outbreaks of Newcastle disease, which has affected numerous farms, and rising feed costs tied to regional tensions involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran. The Syrian government’s lack of transparency about the disease outbreaks has fueled consumer distrust, with rumors circulating that infected poultry harmful to humans is being sold. While the Health Ministry has dismissed these claims, skepticism persists among buyers.
Adding to the pressure, the government’s decision to allow imports of cheap frozen poultry at the end of 2025 has flooded the market, forcing local farmers to consider culling their flocks prematurely. Many producers are operating at a loss, with some farms suspending operations in recent months. Feed costs have risen by 20-25% due to Syria’s reliance on imported raw materials, exacerbated by decades of conflict that have weakened domestic agricultural production. The sector faces a compounded crisis of disease, economic strain, and eroded consumer confidence.
Full Take
The strongest version of this narrative highlights a perfect storm of biological, economic, and geopolitical factors destabilizing Syria’s poultry sector. Disease outbreaks, feed cost spikes, and import competition are verifiable stressors, and the government’s opacity has exacerbated public distrust. The Health Ministry’s reassurances clash with persistent rumors, illustrating how information vacuums breed misinformation—a pattern seen in other crisis-hit economies. The decision to allow imports, while economically rational in the short term, risks hollowing out domestic production, a classic tension between immediate relief and long-term resilience.
Patterns detected: **ARC-0024 Ambiguity** (government’s lack of transparency fuels speculative fears), **ARC-0043 Motte-and-Bailey** (officials deny harm while avoiding accountability for systemic vulnerabilities).
Root cause: Syria’s poultry crisis reflects deeper fragilities—decades of conflict, import dependency, and eroded institutional trust. The narrative assumes market forces and disease are the primary drivers, but the role of governance (or its absence) in managing crises is under-examined. Historically, this echoes post-conflict economies where short-term fixes (like imports) undermine recovery.
Implications: Consumers face higher costs and health anxieties, while farmers bear the brunt of economic displacement. The second-order effect may be further rural-to-urban migration as small producers exit the market. Human dignity is eroded when livelihoods collapse and basic food security becomes uncertain.
Bridge questions: How might Syria balance immediate food access with protecting domestic agriculture? What mechanisms could rebuild trust between consumers, farmers, and officials? Would regional cooperation on feed supply chains mitigate future shocks?
Counterstrike scan: A bad actor might exploit this narrative to stoke anti-government sentiment (e.g., framing imports as betrayal) or amplify health fears to destabilize markets. However, the article’s focus on verifiable economic and biological factors, without overt emotional manipulation, suggests it is not part of a coordinated campaign. The ambiguity around government transparency is a structural issue, not a deliberate disinformation tactic.
Sentinel — Human
The article shows strong signs of human authorship, with specific sourcing, localized details, and natural variability in structure, though minor stylometric and attribution quirks warrant low-level scrutiny.