Líban: Visió econòmica i política
The share of Lebanon’s foreign trade has been declining sharply in recent years and stood at nearly 79% of GDP in 2021, up from 50% one year earlier mostly due to the contraction in GDP (World Bank, latest data available). Hydrocarbons continud to represent a significant portion of the country's imports (29%), reaching 5.6 billion USD in 2022 (an increase of +44% in value but a decrease of -17% in volume). The main non-hydrocarbon imports included electrical machinery and instruments (13%, up by +108%, partially due to increased installation of private-use photovoltaic panels) and vehicles (10.5%, up by +78%). In the same year, the main export items from Lebanon were precious metals (22% of the total), basic metals (14%), agri-food products (11%), plastic (11%), and chemicals (11% - data Franch Ministry of Economy).
According to data by Comtrade, Lebanon’s main export partners in 2022 were the United Arab Emirates (23.3%), Syria (9.6%), Turkey (4.5%), Egypt (4.4%), and Iraq (4.2%); whereas imports come chiefly from China (13.8%), Turkey (12.4%), Greece (9.8%), Italy (5.8%), anf the United States (5.0%). The war in Syria, the drop in demand from countries in the region and the economic and political crisis in Lebanon are having a negative impact on Lebanese exports, while imports are also hindered by the lack of hard currency. The embargo on Lebanese imports imposed by Saudi Arabia since October 2021 has had a significant negative impact on exports. Indeed, the country represented a significant market for Lebanese sales of fruits and vegetables (14% of the total exported in 2020) as well as for chemical and pharmaceutical products (11%); whereas the decrease in precious metals exports was the main factor behind a decline in exports to Switzerland in 2022.
The country's trade balance is structurally in deficit, a trend that may worsen in the future. According to WTO data, in 2022 Lebanese merchandise exports stood at USD 4.3 billion as opposed to USD 19.5 billion in imports (-4.8% and +40.7% year-on-year, respectively). No data is available for the trade in services. As per the Customs Administration, Lebanon's trade shortfall amounted to USD 8.32 billion between Jan-Aug 2023, a decrease from the USD 10.36 billion recorded in the corresponding period the previous year. Imported goods registered a year-on-year decline of 16.27%, reaching USD 10.69 billion, while total exports experienced a slight y-o-y decrease of 1.46%, reaching USD 2.38 billion.
Foreign Trade Values | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
Imports of Goods (million USD) | 19,641 | 11,355 | 13,857 | 19,503 | 15,286 |
Exports of Goods (million USD) | 4,829 | 4,085 | 4,590 | 4,370 | 3,083 |
Imports of Services (million USD) | 13,157 | 4,802 | 4,741 | 6,126 | 0 |
Exports of Services (million USD) | 13,673 | 4,954 | 5,847 | 8,236 | 0 |
Source: World Trade Organisation (WTO) ; Latest available data
Foreign Trade Indicators | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
Foreign Trade (in % of GDP) | 68.5 | 68.3 | 63.0 | 50.1 | 78.8 |
Trade Balance (million USD) | -14,459 | -14,912 | -13,454 | -6,584 | -8,343 |
Trade Balance (Including Service) (million USD) | -13,130 | -13,621 | -12,938 | -6,432 | -7,236 |
Imports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) | 2.1 | 1.3 | -9.5 | -46.0 | -12.2 |
Exports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) | 3.9 | -4.7 | -0.9 | -53.7 | 13.1 |
Imports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) | 46.5 | 47.5 | 42.3 | 33.8 | 52.8 |
Exports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) | 21.9 | 20.8 | 20.7 | 16.4 | 26.0 |
Source: World Bank ; Latest available data
Foreign Trade Forecasts | 2023 | 2024 (e) | 2025 (e) | 2026 (e) | 2027 (e) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Volume of exports of goods and services (Annual % change) | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Volume of imports of goods and services (Annual % change) | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Source: IMF, World Economic Outlook ; Latest available data
Note: (e) Estimated Data
Main Customers (% of Exports) |
2022 |
United Arab Emirates | 23.3% |
Syria | 9.6% |
Türkiye | 4.5% |
Egypt | 4.4% |
Iraq | 4.2% |
See More Countries | 54.1% |
Main Suppliers (% of Imports) |
2022 |
China | 13.8% |
Türkiye | 12.4% |
Greece | 9.8% |
United States | 5.0% |
United Arab Emirates | 3.7% |
See More Countries | 55.3% |
Source: Comtrade, 2024. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.
Source: Comtrade, 2024. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.
To go further, check out our service Import-Export Flows.
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, 2024. Because of rounding, the sum of the percentages may be smaller/greater than 100%.
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Actualitzacions: July 2024