According to the Lebanese Customs, the total trade volume of Lebanon in 2004 reached 11.144 billion USD, a 28.21% increase compared with that of last year (8.692 billion), among which, its import recorded 9.397 billion USD, up 31.1% and its export reached 1.747 USD, an up 14.63%.

Italy 930 million USD, 10% of Lebanon’s Total Imports, France 731 million USD, 8%, Germany, 729 million, 8%, China 720 million, 8%, USA 553 million, 6%, Russia 543 million, 6%.

Exporting Market: Iraq replaced Swiss as the largest market for Lebanese export, which reflected the impact of the America- Iraq war on Lebanon. The first six markets are Iraq, 15%, Swiss, 11%, Syria 8%, UAE 8%, Turkey 7% and Saudi Arabia 6%.

The major import commodities of Lebanon is Mineral products, 22%, machinery and electronic instruments, 12%, chemicals and related products 9%, aircraft, cars and transporting equipment, 9%, food , beverages and tobacco, 6%, base metals 6%, pearls, precious metals, 6%, textiles, live animals and vegetables 5% each.

The major exporting commodities of Lebanon are pearls and precious metals, machinery and electronic products, base metals, chemicals, base metals, food, mineral products, pulp, paper and paper board, etc.

China-Lebanon Trade

Sino-Lebanon trade reached 730 million USD in 2004, up 35.69% over the same period of last year. Among it, Lebanon imported 718 million USD from China, up 35.47% and exported 12230 thousand USD to China, up 62.42%.

The majority of commodities China exported to Lebanon is machinery and electronic products, textiles, footwear and others. With its improved quality and competitive prices, China products are enlarging their market in Lebanon.

Lebanon’s major exporting commodity to China is wasted steel. Meanwhile, the products it exported to China is diversified than before, with plastics and machinery products on the increase.

Please Note that the statistics are all from the Lebanese Customs and the figures from the Chinese Customs are different.