Tartous, also spelled Tartus, holds one of Syria's two main Mediterranean ports, the second-largest in the country. MIDTRANS handles freight to Syria by sea, road and air with customs clearance, and reviews each Tartous request case by case.
Tartous occupies most of a coastal plain on the eastern Mediterranean, backed to the east by the limestone Syrian Coastal Mountain Range. Arwad, the only inhabited island off the Syrian coast and mainly a fishing town, lies a few kilometres offshore. The city had 115,769 residents in the 2004 census, and Tartous Governorate 701,400.
Beyond the port, the city has a cement plant with a capacity of 6,500 t/day, and pharmaceutical, food, chemical and wood-processing industries operate in its urban industrial zone. Coastal tourism and summer resorts add to the local economy, and citrus is grown in the governorate.
Tartous on Syria's Mediterranean coast, south of Latakia. Tap to enlarge the map×
Tartous on Syria's Mediterranean coast, south of Latakia.
Economy
Port concession and local industry
Tartous has one of Syria's two main Mediterranean ports and is the country's second-largest port.
On 13 July 2025 DP World signed a 30-year build-operate-transfer concession for the port, with US$800 million of planned investment in container and general-cargo terminals.
DP World formally began operating Tartous port in November 2025; initial work covers dredging, equipment renewal and digital systems.
Arabic Wikipedia lists 22 berths over about 3 million m².
The M1 highway links Tartous with Latakia, and the M5 via Homs with Damascus; rail lines run to Latakia and to Homs.
Syria's citrus is concentrated in the Latakia and Tartous governorates.
Known for
What Tartous is known for
Seaport and port logistics
Cement
Pharmaceuticals
Citrus from Tartous Governorate
Fishing on Arwad island
Coastal tourism and summer resorts
Freight access
Tartous port and routes inland
Tartous port is about 6 km from the city by road, and Latakia port about 88 km to the north along the coast. Road cargo from the Gulf and Jordan enters at Nassib, about 367 km away, and the nearest crossing with Turkey by road is Kassab, about 139 km; crossing status and permitted cargo are checked for each shipment. For handling at the port itself, see our port logistics page. Figures are approximate road distances from OpenStreetMap.
Nassib crossing (Jordan): about 367 km
Nearest crossing with Türkiye (Kassab): about 139 km
Port of Latakia: about 88 km
Port of Tartous: about 6 km
Distances are approximate road distances calculated from OpenStreetMap road data. They are a planning guide; the route for each shipment is confirmed before booking.
Shipping to Tartous?
Send the cargo details, origin and delivery address, and the route and documents are reviewed before booking.
DP World signed a 30-year build-operate-transfer concession on 13 July 2025, with US$800 million of planned investment, and formally began operating the port in November 2025.
How far is Tartous from Latakia port?
About 88 km by road, based on approximate OpenStreetMap distances. Tartous port is about 6 km from the city.
How many berths does Tartous port have?
Arabic Wikipedia lists 22 berths over about 3 million m². Tartous is Syria's second-largest port.
What industries are in Tartous?
A cement plant with a capacity of 6,500 t/day, plus pharmaceutical, food, chemical and wood-processing industries in the urban industrial zone.
How far is Tartous from the Nassib crossing?
About 367 km by road, with the M5 via Homs linking Tartous to Damascus. Crossing status and permitted cargo are checked for each shipment.
What documents are needed for cargo to Tartous?
Documents depend on the goods and the route and are confirmed for each shipment as part of customs clearance in Syria. Send the commercial invoice, packing list and HS codes through the quote request form; MIDTRANS reviews each Tartous request case by case.
