Located on the country's western coast, the Port of Latakia is Syria's main seaport and the largest port in the country. It handles a significant portion of Syria's maritime trade and serves as a major hub for container shipping, general cargo, and bulk cargo. The port has both commercial and industrial areas and offers facilities for storage, loading, and unloading of goods. Situated near the city of Tartus, the Port of Tartus is another important seaport in Syria. It primarily handles bulk cargo, including petroleum, minerals, and agricultural products. The port has facilities for loading and unloading cargo and serves as a link for trade with neighboring countries.

Syria has been affected by the ongoing civil conflict since 2011, which has had an adverse impact on its maritime transportation infrastructure. However, efforts have been made to maintain and improve port facilities despite the challenges. Reconstruction and development projects are underway to restore and upgrade port infrastructure, aiming to enhance connectivity and trade in the future. With the escalation of the Syrian crisis and the disappearance of its position in the world market, as well as the role of transit of goods that Syria played years ago between the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf and Europe, this position now seems to have been lost. According to a news item published in August 2013, in the past, 30,000 shipments of goods passed through Syrian territory annually, transporting various goods from the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf to Europe and vice versa. 

These shipments, which were usually transported by truck, passed through Jordan and Turkey, which played a significant role in the transit profitability of these countries. The Syrian war prevented many of these goods from being sent to Europe via Syria. The Syrian Free Zones are located on the Mediterranean coast and at Damascus International Airport, as well as in other important domestic areas of the country, to be of special strategic importance. Authorized activities in the free zones of Syria include commercial, industrial and free-market activities. 

Benefits of investing in the Free Zones of Syria include tax and duty exemptions, freedom to transfer capital and profits, freedom to employ foreign and domestic labor in projects in the mentioned zones, presentation of a certificate of origin of Syria or a free zone for products. He mentioned the production in these areas and providing all the necessary infrastructure for projects in free zones such as water, electricity, telephone, highway, sewage, and so on. The free zones of this country are Latakia Zone, Aleppo Free Zone, Latakia Port, Adra Free Zone, Damascus International Airport Free Zone, Tartus Port Free Zone, and Damascus Free Zone.

Syria's coastal cities, including Latakia, Tartus, and Baniyas, are connected through coastal shipping routes. Smaller vessels transport goods and passengers along the coast, providing an important means of domestic transportation and trade. Syria's ports play a crucial role in facilitating international trade. They handle imports and exports of various goods, including oil and gas, minerals, agricultural products, manufactured goods, and containers. The ports serve as gateways for trade with countries in Europe, Asia, and Africa, enabling the import and export of goods through maritime routes.