Syria plans to reduce its cotton planted areas to 225,000 hectares and produce 900,000 MT of seed cotton in 2006/2007. Actual planted areas and production are estimated to exceed the plan.
Barriers to Trade
Syria does not import any cotton lint and does not intend to produce extra long staple cotton in the foreseeable future.
The Syrian government does not officially subsidize cotton lint exports. However, the CMO loses money because international prices for cotton lint are below the cost of production.
Customs duties on cotton yarn and textiles range from 15-50 percent depending on the quality, while such customs duties on synthetic fiber and textiles range from 1-30 percent, also depending on quality. A new customs tariff is expected to be implemented in 2006.
United States Department of Agriculture FAS
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