Trade activity at Lebanon’s main customs offices witnessed a mixed performance during the first four months of 2016. In fact, total imports increased by a yearly 11% to $6.36B while total exports fell by a yearly 10% to $1.15B. The increase in the value of imports was due to the rise in imported volume of goods from 5.01M tons up to April 2015 to 6.30M up to April 2016. Also, the drop in exports was almost entirely accounted for by a drop in volume from 0.75M tons by April 2015 to 0.67M by April 2016.
Data from Lebanese customs confirms that the Port of Beirut remained the main trade hub of the country and showed improving activity. In details, 75% of the country’s imports and 59% of the country’s exports went through its customs office by April 2016, compared to a share of 69% of total imports and 51% of total exports by April 2015. It is followed by the customs office of Rafic Hariri International Airport through which 18% of Lebanon’s imports and 28% of Lebanon’s exports have been processed up to April 2016, compared to a share of 21% of the country’s total imports and 27% of the country’s total exports by April 2015.
Customs office of Tripoli also held by April 2016 the same shares as the previous year grasping 5% and 6% of Lebanon’s total imports and exports, respectively.
Due to the ongoing war in Syria, the volume and value of imports processed at the customs office of Masnaa is tremendously plummeting over the years. In details, the share of imported and exported goods processed at the Masnaa custom office dropped from 4% and 14% by April 2012 to 0.4% and 3% by April 2016.
Imports by Customs’ Office, Share in Total
Source: Lebanese Customs