Europe Tops List of Trading Partners

European countries were Syria’s main trading partners last year, according to a January 25 report on the pro-government website Syria News.



In figures released for 2008, the Central Office for Statistics announced that 40 per cent of exports, including oil and cotton, went to EU countries, while 30 per cent of imports came from Europe.



Six per cent of exports go to Italy, followed by France, Spain and Holland, while the United States receives roughly two per cent.



Arab countries purchased 20 per cent of Syria’s exports, and provided 39 per cent of its imports.



Of these countries, Saudi Arabia imported the most Syrian goods, followed by Iraq, Jordan, Egypt and Lebanon.



Meanwhile, the website noted that the Syrian government feared the effect the global economic crisis might have on foreign trade in 2009.