Syria has managed to increase its grain imports in recent months despite war. Traders say Syria appeared to have had difficulty securing international supplies of grain last year.

Foodstuffs are not covered by international sanctions, but banking sanctions and war had created a climate that had made it difficult for some trading houses to do business with Damascus.

Now, with foreign brokers setting up deals, Damascus is able to buy wheat while paying a small premium of about 3 percent to 5 percent of the global price.

"Syrian grain imports for the government seem to have settled down into a routine with traders in neighbouring countries taking the direct orders and passing on the business basically under sub-contract to international trading houses for completion of the contract," one European grain trader said.

In normal times, Syria grows most of its wheat, with imports making up less than a quarter of consumption, although bad harvests, like in 2010, can cause imports to spike.

This year's harvest is due to be collected in coming weeks. "The big question is how much grain Syria will harvest this year. A simply unknown factor is how many Syrian farmers have been able to work normally in the face of the upheavals the fighting has brought," another European trade source said.

Traders who spoke to Reuters for this article asked not to be identified to keep their market positions confidential.