Despite Israel’s military escalation in Gaza and southern Lebanon, as well as Lebanon’s ongoing political, financial and social turmoil, the Port of Beirut continued to deliver strong results in the first half of 2025.
According to Elie Zakhour, vice-president of the Arab Union of Maritime Navigation Chambers and former head of the International Chamber of Navigation in Beirut, statistics point to a notable increase in overall activity compared with the same period in 2024.
The port handled 684 vessels in the first half of the year, compared with 770 in the same period of 2024 – an 11% drop. However, the overall volume of goods climbed 14% to reach 3.06 million tons. Container traffic also expanded by 9%, totaling 405,629 units, fueled by a surge in imports for domestic consumption (+23%) and a sharp rise in re-exported empty containers (+29%).
In contrast, exports of local goods declined 9%, and transshipment activity fell 21%. Meanwhile, the automotive sector rebounded sharply, with 27,009 vehicles processed – a 35% increase.
Zakhour concluded by once again urging Lebanese officials to implement long-overdue reforms to ensure stability and consolidate these encouraging signs of recovery.
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