Electricity: capacity: 4,160,000 kW production: 13.2 billion kWh consumption per capita: 865 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: wheat, barley, cotton, lentils, chickpeas; beef, lamb, eggs, poultry, milk
Illicit drugs: a transit point for Lebanese and Turkish refined cocaine going to Europe and heroin and hashish bound for regional and Western markets
Exports: $3.5 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
commodities: petroleum 66%, cotton, fruits and vegetables 14%,
textiles 9%, animal products 4%, industrial products 3%
partners: EU 61%, Arab countries 24%, former CEMA countries, China,
Yugoslavia 5%, US and Canada 3% (1993 est.)
Imports: $5.4 billion (c.i.f., 1994)
commodities: machinery 25%, metal products 16%, transport equipment
15%, foodstuffs 12%, textiles 10%
partners: EU 37%, former CEMA countries, China, Yugoslavia 17%, US
and Canada 7%, Arab countries 6% (1993 est.)
External debt: $21.2 billion (1995 est.)
Economic aid: recipient: ODA, $259 million (1993)
Currency: 1 Syrian pound (LS) = 100 piastres
Exchange rates: Syrian pounds (LS) per US$1 - 11.225 (official fixed rate), 26.6 ("blended rate" used by the UN and diplomatic missions), 42.0 ("neighboring country rate" - applies to most state enterprise imports), 48.0 - 52.0 (offshore rate) (1994)
Fiscal year: calendar year