According to Banque Du Liban statistics, opened letters of credit (L/Cs), a measurement tool for trade activity, fell by 52.52% during the month of April 2025 to reach LBP 492.00 billion, down from LBP 1,036.20 billion a month earlier. On an annual basis, the face value of opened L/Cs reached LBP 2,349.60 billion (around $26.25 million) during the first four months of 2025 compared to LBP 6,747.40 billion in the same period in 2024.

Documentary L/Cs opened to finance imports activities reached LBP 1,606.50 billion ($17.95 million) YTD April 2025, compared to LBP 6,008.60 billion in the equivalent period in 2024. Similarly, utilized credits for imports came in lower at LBP 1,004.10 billion ($11.22 million) while inward bills for collection, another documentary credit form of financing (backed by invoices), rose by 2.91% to LBP 7,063.30 billion ($78.92 million) YTD April 2025, from LBP 6,863.90 billion in the same period in 2024.

In a related note, documentary L/Cs opened to finance exports activities rose to LBP 743.10 billion ($8.30 million) YTD April 2025, from LBP 738.80 billion in the same period in 2024. Conversely, utilized credits to finance exports decreased to LBP 861.70 billion ($9.63 million; 115.96% of opened L/Cs for exports). In parallel, the value of outward bills rose to LBP 3,451.50 billion ($38.56 million) YTD April 2025, while outstanding bills for collection sank to LBP 9,845.10 billion ($110.00 million), from LBP 11,786.00 billion in the first four months of 2024.