According to Banque Du Liban statistics, opened letters of credit (L/Cs), a measurement tool for trade activity, soared by 243.73% during the month of September 2025 to reach LBP 2,141.80 billion, up from LBP 623.10 billion a month earlier. On an annual basis, the face value of opened L/Cs reached LBP 7,860.10 billion (around $87.82 million) during the first nine months of 2025 compared to LBP 8,772.90 billion in the same period in 2024.

Documentary L/Cs opened to finance imports activities reached LBP 5,227.20 billion ($58.40 million) YTD September 2025, compared to LBP 7,266.80 billion in the equivalent period in 2024. Similarly, utilized credits for imports came in lower at LBP 3,711.50 billion ($41.47 million) while inward bills for collection, another documentary credit form of financing (backed by invoices), rose by 17.40% to LBP 17,804.10 billion ($198.93 million) YTD September 2025, from LBP 15,165.90 billion in the same period in 2024.

In a related note, documentary L/Cs opened to finance exports activities rose to LBP 2,632.90 billion ($29.42 million) YTD September 2025, up from LBP 1,506.10 billion in the same period in 2024. Concurrently, utilized credits to finance exports increased to LBP 2,690.80 billion ($30.06 million; 102.20% of opened L/Cs for exports). In parallel, the value of outward bills rose to LBP 9,091.90 billion ($101.59 million) YTD September 2025, while outstanding bills for collection sank to LBP 9,435.50 billion ($105.42 million), from LBP 11,096.70 billion in the first nine months of 2024.