Lebanon’s Balance of payments (BoP) deficit reached $1.65B by August 2015, almost four times higher than the $432.9M recorded a year earlier. In fact, the deficit level was the worst since 2012 and was mainly due to the decline in capital inflows and Foreign Direct Investment (FDIs) as a result of the ongoing domestic developments and the regional upheavals. In fact, Net Foreign Assets (NFA) of the Central Bank (BDL) grew by $1.46B until August 2015, while that of the commercial banks fell by $3.11B, over the same period.
In August alone, Lebanon’s Balance of Payments (BoP) also recorded a deficit of $332.0M, for the 5th time this year. In details, Net Foreign Assets (NFA) of the Central Bank (BDL) contracted by $407.2M in August 2015 , while that of the commercial banks added $75.2M from the prior month.
Balance of Payments Up to August (In $ M)
Source: Banque du Liban