On the current account side of the balance of payments, Lebanon’s balance of trade deficit widened by $900.47 million (12.93%) y-o-y in the first half of 2025 to around $7.87 billion at end of June, up from around $6.97 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 $1,226.04 million increase (14.62%) in imports to $9.61 billion, which totally eroded the $325.57 million annual increase (22.94%) in exports to $1.75 billion.

Switzerland led the list of countries importing from Lebanon, with its imports’ invoice aggregating to $362 million (20.75% of Lebanon’s exports). China, on the other hand, topped the list of countries exporting to Lebanon, with its exports bill reaching $1,073 million (11.17% of Lebanon’s imports). This is further elaborated in the tables below:

Exports of “pearls, precious stones and metals” accounted alone for 36.14% ($631 million) of total Lebanese exports up to June 2025, followed by “base metals and their products” ($268 million <15.35%>), “prepared foodstuffs; beverages & tobacco” ($211 million <12.07%>), and products of the chemical industry” ($168 million <9.61%>). On the other hand, “mineral products” constituted the lion’s share of imported goods ($2,311 million <24.05%>), trailed by “pearls, precious stones and metals” ($1,628 million <16.94%>), “products of the chemical industry” ($796 million <8.29%>), and “machinery; electrical instruments” ($747 million <7.77%>).