Commodity Settlement Syria -- Gold DVP -- Abu Dhabi

Syria Commodity Traders Need Full Sanctions Clarity Before Seeking Settlement

Syria's key exports — crude oil and phosphates (conflict-affected) — face 45-90 day payment delays through comprehensive OFAC/EU sanctions on banking sector. LCORE's gold DVP eliminates the multi-hop SWIFT chain entirely: buyer deposits gold in Abu Dhabi escrow, commodity ships, delivery is confirmed, and gold releases to the exporter. Settlement completes in 2-3 business days with a minimum transaction size of $5M. No USD intermediary bank required.

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2-3
Working Days
0
USD / SWIFT
SYP
Settlement
ADGM
Reg. 28158
Overview

Settling Syria commodity
transactions via gold

When SYP payments are blocked by correspondent banking compliance, LCORE's gold DVP provides a neutral Abu Dhabi alternative. Syrian commodity traders can deposit physical gold into DVP escrow -- commodity delivers -- payment in SYP confirms -- gold releases. 2-3 working days.

ADGM English Law governs. Lloyd's $200M insurance throughout. UAE geopolitically neutral -- not subject to US, EU, or UK sanctions regime.

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Confidential. Min $5M. ADGM 28158.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Why do Syria exporters face settlement delays with international buyers?
Syria's banking sector routes USD payments through multiple correspondent banks, each adding compliance review and processing time. Total settlement typically takes 45-90 days. LCORE's gold DVP compresses this to 2-3 business days through single-point Abu Dhabi escrow, eliminating the entire correspondent chain.
What Syria commodities can be settled through gold DVP?
Primary exports including crude oil and phosphates (conflict-affected) all qualify for gold DVP settlement. Any physical commodity with verifiable shipment documentation — bill of lading, quality certificate, and quantity survey — can trigger the settlement mechanism. Minimum $5M per transaction.
How does gold DVP protect Syria exporters from currency risk during settlement?
Traditional SWIFT settlement exposes Syria exporters to 45-90 days of exchange rate movement. Gold DVP locks value at transaction date: gold collateral is denominated in USD equivalent, settlement occurs in 2-3 business days, and the exporter receives payment before currency drift becomes material.
Also see: DVP Settlement · Non-USD Commodity · Gold Escrow
Key Commodities

Syria commodity trade profile

Syria's pre-conflict commodity export base included crude oil, phosphates, cotton, olive oil, wheat, and pistachios — a diverse agricultural and mineral commodity portfolio. Crude oil from the Deir ez-Zor fields (Omar, Jafra, Tanak) was the dominant export, producing approximately 400,000 barrels per day before the 2011 conflict. The fields are now partially controlled by the SDF (Syrian Democratic Forces) with US-adjacent oversight, and by government forces in different regions. Phosphate rock from the Palmyra region makes Syria a historically significant phosphate exporter. Olive oil from the Idlib, Hama, and Tartus regions targets Mediterranean buyers. Pistachios from Aleppo and northern Syria are premium global commodity. Cotton from the Euphrates Valley historically supplied Turkish and European textile mills. Post-conflict reconstruction creates commodity demand for cement, steel, and construction materials. Syria's commodity trade is severely limited by EU, US, UK, and Canadian comprehensive sanctions targeting the Assad government, with the post-2024 HTS-transitional government's commodity access status requiring specific legal analysis.

Banking Friction

Why Syria commodity traders need payment alternatives

Syria is subject to comprehensive EU, US, UK, and Canadian sanctions following the Assad government's actions during the civil war. OFAC's Syrian Sanctions Regulations prohibit virtually all USD transactions with Syria. Syria has been disconnected from SWIFT. The Syrian pound (SYP) has experienced hyperinflationary collapse — losing over 99% of its value since 2011. Most Syrian commercial activity uses USD cash, Turkish lira, or hawala. The 2024 collapse of the Assad government and the emergence of an HTS-transitional authority creates a complex new legal environment for sanctions applicability. LCORE conducts comprehensive OFAC, EU, and UAE sanctions screening on all Syria-origin mandates. The political and legal transition status of specific Syrian counterparties must be individually assessed. No mandate involving Assad government entities or OFAC-SDN-listed Syrian parties is eligible. Post-transition Syrian counterparties in agriculture or reconstruction commodity sectors may be assessed under ADGM compliance review.