On the current account side of the balance of payments, Lebanon’s balance of trade deficit narrowed by $72.12 million (3.16%) on an annual basis to nearly $2.21 billion during the first two months of 2025, down from around $2.28 billion in the same period in 2024, according to statistics published by the Lebanese Customs Administration. Said drop in the deficit was triggered by some $182.45 million annual increase in exports to $626 million, which eroded the effect of the $110.32 million increase in imports to just above $2.83 billion.

Switzerland led the list of countries importing from Lebanon, with its imports’ invoice aggregating to $189 million (30.28% of Lebanon’s exports). China, on the other hand, topped the list of countries exporting to Lebanon, with its exports bill reaching $306 million (10.81% of Lebanon’s imports). This is further elaborated in the tables below:

Exports of “pearls, precious stones and metals” accounted alone for 42.93% ($269 million) of total Lebanese exports by February 2025, followed by “base metals and their products” ($101 million <16.22%>), “prepared foodstuffs; beverages & tobacco” ($65 million <10.42%>), and “products of the chemical industry” ($47 million <7.58%>). On the other hand, “mineral products” constituted the lion’s share of imported goods ($882 million <31.13%>), trailed by “pearls, precious stones and metals” ($284 million <10.03%>), “products of the chemical industry” ($245 million <8.66%>), and “machinery; electrical instruments” ($222 million <7.85%>).