LEBANON - Lebanon’s foreign trade rose sharply during the first eleven months of 2025 compared with the same period in 2024. Lebanese Customs said the increase was mainly due to higher imports, which pushed up the country’s trade deficit.

Eli Zakhour, First Vice President of the Arab Union of Maritime Chambers and former head of the International Chamber of Shipping in Beirut, said imports through all ports reached $19.377 billion.

This is up from $15.717 billion in 2024, a 23.3% rise. Exports also increased to $3.211 billion from $2.495 billion, up 28.7%.

The trade deficit grew to $16.166 billion, compared with $13.222 billion last year, an increase of 22.3%.

Beirut Port remained Lebanon’s main gateway. Imports through it totaled $11.516 billion, or 59.4% of total imports.

Rafic Hariri International Airport handled $5.710 billion (29.5%), while Tripoli Port processed $1.510 billion (7.8%).

For exports, Beirut Port led with $1.342 billion (41.8%). Rafic Hariri Airport followed with $1.277 billion (39.8%), and Tripoli Port handled $254 million (7.9%).

China was Lebanon’s top supplier, providing $2.221 billion of imports (11.5%). Switzerland came second with $1.860 billion (9.6%), followed by the UAE at $1.632 billion (8.4%).

Switzerland also imported the most from Lebanon, buying $622 million (19.4%). The UAE was second at $525 million (16.4%), and Egypt third at $152 million (4.7%).

Metal products were the top imports at $4.46 billion (23%), followed by gems and precious metals ($3.77 billion, 19.5%) and chemical products ($1.56 billion, 8%).

For exports, gems and precious metals led ($1.063 billion, 33.1%), followed by ordinary metals ($482 million, 15%) and food and beverages ($399 million, 12.4%).

Zakhour said Lebanon’s total foreign trade could exceed $24 billion in 2025, a level not reached in over ten years.