On the current account side of the balance of payments, Lebanon’s balance of trade deficit widened by $860.93 million (14.85%) y-o-y in the first five months of 2025 to around $6.66 billion at end of May, up from around $5.80 billion in the same period in 2024, according to statistics published by the Lebanese Customs Administration. Said rise in the deficit was triggered by some $1,123.52 million increase (16.01%) in imports to $8.14 billion, which totally eroded the $262.59 million annual increase (21.56%) in exports to $1.48 billion.

Switzerland led the list of countries importing from Lebanon, with its imports’ invoice aggregating to $295 million (19.94% of Lebanon’s exports). China, on the other hand, topped the list of countries exporting to Lebanon, with its exports bill reaching $865 million (10.62% of Lebanon’s imports). This is further elaborated in the tables below:

Exports of “pearls, precious stones and metals” accounted alone for 36.77% ($544 million) of total Lebanese exports up to May 2025, followed by “base metals and their products” ($232 million <15.65%>), “prepared foodstuffs; beverages & tobacco” ($178 million <12.05%>), and products of the chemical industry” ($130 million <8.78%>). On the other hand, “mineral products” constituted the lion’s share of imported goods ($1,987 million <24.41%>), trailed by “pearls, precious stones and metals” ($1,458 million <17.91%>), “products of the chemical industry” ($667 million <8.19%>), and “machinery; electrical instruments” ($624 million <7.67%>).