On the current account side of the balance of payments, Lebanon’s balance of trade deficit widened by $1,123.89 million (50.91%) y-o-y to around $3.33 billion as at the end of the first two months of 2026 up from around $2.21 billion in the same period in 2025, according to statistics published by the Lebanese Customs Administration. Said rise in the deficit was triggered by some $199.89 million annual decrease (31.94%) in exports to $426 million coupled with a $923.99 million increase (32.61%) in imports to just below $3.76 billion.

The United Arab Emirates led the list of countries importing from Lebanon, with its imports’ invoice aggregating to $65 million (15.26% of Lebanon’s exports). China, on the other hand, topped the list of countries exporting to Lebanon, with its exports bill reaching $465 million (12.38% of Lebanon’s imports). This is further elaborated in the tables below:

Exports of “pearls, precious stones and metals” accounted alone for 19.88% ($85 million) of total Lebanese exports YTD February 2026, followed by “base metals and their products” ($76 million <17.78%>), “prepared foodstuffs, beverages & tobacco” ($64 million <14.95%>), and “machinery and electrical instruments” ($59 million <13.81%>). On the other hand, “pearls, precious stones and metals” constituted the lion’s share of imported goods ($837 million <22.26%>), trailed by “mineral products” ($800 million <21.30%>), “machinery and electrical instruments” ($349 million <9.28%>), and “products of the chemical industry” ($319 million <8.49%>).