On the current account side of the balance of payments, Lebanon’s balance of trade deficit widened by $1,306.10 million (37.94%) y-o-y in the first quarter of 2026 to around $4.75 billion up from around $3.44 billion in the same quarter in 2025, according to statistics published by the Lebanese Customs Administration. Said rise in the deficit was buoyed by some $304.06 million annual decrease (32.53%) in exports to $631 million coupled with a $1,002.04 million (22.89%) increase in imports to around $5.38 billion.

The United Arab Emirates led the list of countries importing from Lebanon, with its imports’ invoice aggregating to $87 million (13.79% of Lebanon’s exports). China, on the other hand, topped the list of countries exporting to Lebanon, with its exports bill reaching $641 million (11.92% of Lebanon’s imports). This is further elaborated in the tables below:

Exports of “pearls, precious stones and metals” accounted alone for 20.00% ($126 million) of total Lebanese exports in Q1-2026, followed by “base metals and their products” ($122 million <19.26%>), “prepared foodstuffs, beverages & tobacco” ($95 million <14.98%>), and “machinery and electrical instruments” ($82 million <12.94%>). On the other hand, “mineral products” constituted the lion’s share of imported goods ($1,290 million <23.98%>), trailed by “pearls, precious stones and metals” ($1,012 million <18.80%>), “machinery and electrical instruments” ($461 million <8.56%>), and “products of the chemical industry” ($460 million <8.55%>).