• Dina Antonios
• Economic Digest
• February 25, 2019

Airport Activity Registered Noticeable Improvement in 2018

The Rafic Hariri International Airport activity significantly improved, as the total number of passengers increased by a yearly 7.88% to 8.89M, its highest record in more than a decade. In details, both ... read more

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• Rouba Chbeir
• Economic Digest
• February 21, 2019

Consumer Prices Driven Up in January 2019, as Inflation stood at 3.17% y-o-y

According to the Central Administration of Statistics (CAS), consumer prices rose by an annual 3.17% in the first month of 2019, compared to an average inflation rate of 5.55% in January 2018. The rise is ... read more

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• Dina Antonios
• Economic Digest
• February 20, 2019

The Value of Kafalat Guarantees Plunged to $799,293 in January 2019

According to Kafalat, the number of issued loan guarantees stood at 8 guarantees in January 2019, compared to 39 guarantees in January 2018. The large drop in Kafalat guarantees can be attributed to the ... read more

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• Nourrice Hamza
• Economic Digest
• February 19, 2019

Gross Public Debt Touched $85.13B in 2018

According to the Ministry of Finance, Lebanon’s gross public debt reached $85.13B by the end of the year, adding an annual 7.06% on the back of the rise in both, local currency debt and foreign currency ... read more

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• Rouba Chbeir
• Economic Digest
• February 18, 2019

Value of Cleared Checks Down by 17.2% in January 2019 to $4.9B

According to the Association of Banks (ABL), the total value of cleared checks retreated by a yearly 17.2% to stand at $4.9B in January 2019. Similarly, the total number of checks over the same period ... read more

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• Nourrice Hamza
• Economic Digest
• February 15, 2019

Lebanon’s Trade Deficit Ended 2018 with a 1.73% Increase $17.03B

The Lebanese economy continues to suffer from the high trade deficit that is the main cause behind the current account deficit. In fact, Lebanon’s trade deficit registered an increase of 1.73% year-on-year ... read more

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• Nourrice Hamza
• Economic Digest
• February 13, 2019

The Number of Real Estate Transactions down in January 2019

According to the data from the General Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre (LRC), the number of real estate (R.E) transactions, which may include one or more realties, reached   3,667 transactions in ... read more

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• Nourrice Hamza
• Economic Digest
• February 12, 2019

Port of Beirut Revenues Down in the First Month of 2019

The revenues of the Port of Beirut (PoB) fell by 15.46% year-on-year (y-o-y) to stand at $17.76 M in January 2019, down from $ 21.01M in January 2018. In details and over the same period, total container ... read more

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• Nourrice Hamza
• Economic Digest
• February 11, 2019

Total Number of Registered New Cars down by 26.10% in January 2019

According to the Association of Lebanese Car Importers, the total number of newly registered commercial and passenger cars fell by 26.10 % year- on- year (y-o-y) to 1,948 cars in January 2019. In details, ... read more

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• Rouba Chbeir
• Economic Digest
• February 8, 2019

Lebanon’s Industrial Exports Added 3.6% y-o-y to $2.1B by October 2018

The total value of industrial exports added an annual 3.6% to reach $2.1B by October 2018, as per the Lebanese Ministry of Industry. In the month of October 2018 alone, the value of total industrial ... read more

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• Nourrice Hamza
• Economic Digest
• February 7, 2019

Total Assets of Lebanese Commercial Banks Gained a Yearly 13.48% in 2018

According to Lebanon’s commercial banks’ balance sheet, total assets witnessed an increase of 13.48% year-to-date (y-t-d) to stand at $249.48B by December 2018. In details, deposits with BDL, constituting ... read more

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• Sara Hadchiti
• Economic Digest
• February 6, 2019

Balance of Payments Deficit ended 2018 with a deficit of $4.82B

According to the Central Bank of Lebanon, Lebanon’s Balance of Payments (BoP) ended 2018 with a $4.82B deficit compared to a $155.7M deficit during the same period last year. In fact, the external balance ... read more

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• Sara Hadchiti
• Economic Digest
• February 4, 2019

BDL’s Balance Sheet’s Assets Grew Monthly by 1.97% to $143.37B in January 2019

The balance sheet of the Lebanese Central Bank, BDL, witnessed a 1.97% monthly increase in total assets to $143.37B in January 2019. “Foreign assets”, constituting 27.39% of total assets, recorded a ... read more

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• Nourrice Hamza
• Economic Digest
• February 1, 2019

A New Circular By BDL On Subsidized Housing And Non-Housing Loans

Housing Loans Since it stopped subsidizing housing loans, the BDL issued circular 515 to the banks and financial institutions on Wednesday January 30 to reactivate the program by allocating a total of ... read more

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• Rouba Chbeir
• Economic Digest
• February 1, 2019

BLOM Bank’s Financial Results for 2018 Steady Profitability in Difficult Operating Conditions

BLOM Bank published today its unaudited financial results for 2018. In a difficult environment characterized by a slowing economy, higher taxes, and continuing political paralysis, BLOM Bank managed to ... read more

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• Rouba Chbeir
• Economic Digest
• January 31, 2019

BLC’s Net Profit for 2018 Contracted to Stand at $41M

BLC Bank Financial Highlights in 2018 (in $M) Dec-18 Dec-17 Y-o-Y Total Assets                5,895.37                  5,867.19 0.48% Loans and Advances to Customers                1,607.47 ... read more

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• Sara Hadchiti
• Economic Digest
• January 31, 2019

Bank Audi’s  Net Income Up by 7.92% to $ 500.56M in 2018

According to the consolidated financial statements of Bank Audi, the bank’s profits increased by a yearly 7.92% to settle at $500.56M in 2018. In fact, “Net interest margin” posted a yearly 9.40% growth to ... read more

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• Rouba Chbeir
• Economic Digest
• January 30, 2019

Profits of Byblos Bank Contracted to $164.53M in 2018

2018: Byblos Bank’s Financial Highlights (in $ million) Dec-18 Dec-17 Y-o-Y Net Total Assets                       25,000.60                       22,661.50 10.32% Net Loans and Advances to Customers at ... read more

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• Nourrice Hamza
• Economic Digest
• January 30, 2019

Bank of Beirut’s Net Income rose by 2.83% in 2018 to $ 210.19M

According to the consolidated unaudited balance sheet of Bank of Beirut, total assets rose by a yearly   2.91% to $18.90B in 2018. In details, “Net Loans & Advances to Customers at amortized cost” and ... read more

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• Nourrice Hamza
• Economic Digest
• January 29, 2019

Bank BEMO’s Net Profit Up By 2.48% To $18.89M in 2018

According to Bank BEMO’s unaudited consolidated financial statements, the bank’s profit for 2018 totaled $18.89M compared to $18.43M last year. In fact, the Net interest income grew by 26.85% to $35.21M by ... read more

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• Nourrice Hamza
• Economic Digest
• January 28, 2019

Analyzing Lebanon’s labor market in the digital Sector

Within the framework of the European Union-funded “Promotion of Social Justice” project; the Ministry of Labor, in collaboration with the GOPA (Group of Policy Advisers) published a report aiming to shed ... read more

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