Figure of the weekBeirut Port Scans 60 Containers per Hour with AI-Powered Technology

Liliane Mokbel 02/08 15:00 - Reading : less than a minute

Banks Beirut Port European Union

The Ministry of Finance is accelerating its efforts to modernize Lebanon’s customs operations. With a clear goal of enhancing public revenue collection, a large-scale digital transformation is underway, impacting both the Directorate of Revenues and the Customs Directorate. Key initiatives include the gradual rollout of electronic payment ...

Figure of the weekQaraoun Water Crisis Triggers Hydropower Collapse in Lebanon

Liliane Mokbel 26/07 15:00 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

EDL Hydropower lebanon

What began as an environmental emergency is now fueling a national energy crisis. The severe drop in water levels at Lake Qaraoun is crippling Lebanon’s hydroelectric output and threatening power security across the country. In June 2025, hydroelectric production decreased by 76 percent compared to the same month in the previous year. Only 12 ...

Figure of the weekLebanese Arak Makes a Strong Comeback on Global Markets

Liliane Mokbel 19/07 15:00 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

The Lebanese arak industry is enjoying a remarkable revival. In 2024, exports of this iconic spirit reached 980,000 bottles, up from 700,000 in 2016. This represents a nearly 40 percent increase over eight years. In terms of value, the growth is even more impressive, rising from $3.7 million to $6.2 million, an increase of more than 67 ...

Figure of the week2024: A Year of War and Financial Solidarity

Liliane Mokbel 12/07 15:00 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Amid ongoing conflict and persistent economic instability, remittances from Lebanese abroad continue to play a vital role in Lebanon’s financial survival. Since 2006, when remittance flows hit a low of $5.72 billion, the volume of money sent back to Lebanon has fluctuated in response to both domestic and global conditions. The highest level ...

Figure of the weekThe Rise of Lebanese Wine

Liliane Mokbel 05/07 14:00 - Reading : less than a minute

Lebanon produces 12 million bottles of wine each year — an impressive figure for a small country, with nearly half exported to around 30 countries worldwide. This vibrant industry generates over $20 million in annual revenue, according to the National Institute of Vine and Wine (INVV). Behind this success is steady, long-term growth: in 2000, ...

Figure of the week$4 Billion: The True Weight of Lebanon’s Agriculture Sector

Liliane Mokbel 28/06 14:00 - Reading : less than a minute

agriculture lebanon economy food

As Lebanon endures a prolonged economic crisis, one figure remains widely overlooked: the country’s agriculture sector generates over $4 billion annually when including the entire value chain: transport, packaging, and agro-food processing. On its own, raw agricultural production is valued at $2.2 billion per year. Strengthening agriculture and ...

Figure of the weekLebanese Eurobonds Drop 13% Amid Regional Tensions

Liliane Mokbel 21/06 14:00 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

lebanon Eurobonds war Iran Israël

Lebanese eurobonds, long regarded as one of the most profitable investments in emerging markets in 2024, have sharply declined by 13.15%. This downturn is mainly attributed to the recent outbreak of war between Israel and Iran last Friday, coupled with ongoing stalemates in structural reforms and sovereign debt restructuring. These ...

Figure of the weekLBP 44.2 Million for a Basic Food Basket

Liliane Mokbel 14/06 12:00 - Reading : less than a minute

Economy Lebanon World Food Program

According to the World Food Program, the survival food basket has reached LBP 44.2 million, or around $492, an increase of $42 since January. That's how much it now costs for a family of five to cover its basic food needs for a month in Lebanon. This basket, which includes rice, wheat, pulses, oil, sugar, salt and sardines, represents the bare ...

Figure of the weekPublic Bus Use Surges to 4,600 Daily Riders, One Year After Launch

Liliane Mokbel 07/06 15:00 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Baalbeck

4,600 — that's the average number of passengers using public buses each day, one year after the launch of Lebanon’s state-operated public transport service, led by the Office of Railways and Public Transport. This marks a significant increase compared to the early days of the project, when daily ridership hovered between just 200 and 300 ...

Figure of the weekTwo-Thirds of Families Struggle to Access Quality Food

Liliane Mokbel 31/05 12:00 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Baalbeck Lebanon wages cost

Save the Children conducted a survey of 4,099 Lebanese households, excluding those in the North and Akkar governorates. The findings reveal that 66% of families surveyed face serious difficulties accessing quality food. The situation is especially critical in the Baalbeck-Hermel region, where 11% of households were unable to obtain enough food to ...

Figure of the weekLebanon’s Exports Surge 30% in Q1 2025

Liliane Mokbel 24/05 15:00 - Reading : less than a minute

United States Lebanon exports swiss

Lebanon’s exports surged by 30% in the first quarter of 2025, reaching $957 million, up from $735 million during the same period in 2024. This marks a significant improvement for a country with a chronically negative trade balance. Jewelry, Lebanon’s top export category (43% of total exports), played a major role in this increase, with ...

Figure of the weekInterest on Lebanese Pound Deposits Drops

Liliane Mokbel 17/05 14:00 - Reading : less than a minute

Banque du Liban

2% — that’s the average interest rate on deposits in Lebanese pounds, according to the latest figures released by the Banque du Liban for March 2025. This represents a clear decline from 2.86% in February, although it remains higher than the rate recorded a year earlier in March 2024, when it stood at just 1%. In contrast, interest rates on ...