Public Bus Use Surges to 4,600 Daily Riders, One Year After Launch
Liliane Mokbel 07/06 15:00 - Reading : 1 minute(s)
4,600 — that's the average number of passengers using public buses each day, one year after the launch of Lebanon’s state-operated public transport service, led by the Office of Railways and Public Transport. This marks a significant increase compared to the early days of the project, when daily ridership hovered between just 200 and 300 ...
Two-Thirds of Families Struggle to Access Quality Food
Liliane Mokbel 31/05 12:00 - Reading : 1 minute(s)
Save the Children conducted a survey of 4,099 Lebanese households, excluding those in the North and Akkar governorates. The findings reveal that 66% of families surveyed face serious difficulties accessing quality food. The situation is especially critical in the Baalbeck-Hermel region, where 11% of households were unable to obtain enough food to ...
EDL Crisis: No Power Without a Regulatory Authority
Liliane Mokbel 30/05 13:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Power plant maintenance is resuming, the local fuel market is well supplied, and electricity rationing is beginning to ease gradually. These improvements raise the prospect of an average electricity supply of twelve hours per day. Yet, without activating the Regulatory Authority – mandated by law for more than twenty years – the resolution of ...
Energy Crisis: Lebanon Between Regional Opportunities and Internal Blockages
Liliane Mokbel 29/05 13:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
EDL Europe Hezbollah US Congress Energy
Arab support for the revival of Lebanon’s energy sector is back in the spotlight. On the sidelines of the Arab Summit in Amman, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam reopened this crucial file with his Jordanian counterpart. Shortly after, Lebanese Finance Minister Yassine Jaber and Energy and Water Minister Joe Saddi discussed the main points of energy ...
EDL: At the Heart of Lebanon’s Energy Crisis
Liliane Mokbel 27/05 12:45 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Banks Beirut International Airport EDL Energy
Electricity rationing is the rule, contrary to all logic in a nation-state framework. A quarter of a century after the end of the Civil War, the Lebanese remain dependent on alternative means of energy supply – mostly at the mercy of the neighborhood private generator supplier. Électricité du Liban (EDL) will long remain in Lebanon’s history ...
Lebanon’s Exports Surge 30% in Q1 2025
Liliane Mokbel 24/05 15:00 - Reading : less than a minute
United States Lebanon exports swiss
Lebanon’s exports surged by 30% in the first quarter of 2025, reaching $957 million, up from $735 million during the same period in 2024. This marks a significant improvement for a country with a chronically negative trade balance. Jewelry, Lebanon’s top export category (43% of total exports), played a major role in this increase, with ...
Interest on Lebanese Pound Deposits Drops
Liliane Mokbel 17/05 14:00 - Reading : less than a minute
2% — that’s the average interest rate on deposits in Lebanese pounds, according to the latest figures released by the Banque du Liban for March 2025. This represents a clear decline from 2.86% in February, although it remains higher than the rate recorded a year earlier in March 2024, when it stood at just 1%. In contrast, interest rates on ...
Lebanon’s $30 Million Digital Ad Boom Bypasses Local Media
Liliane Mokbel 10/05 12:00 - Reading : less than a minute
Despite a near-total freeze in ad campaigns since September 2024, triggered by the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, digital advertising emerged as a clear winner in Lebanon. According to the Lebanese chapter of the International Advertising Association (IAA), ad spending on platforms like Meta, TikTok and Google reached $30 ...
Only 1 in 5 Motorcycles Registered in Lebanon
Liliane Mokbel 03/05 12:00 - Reading : less than a minute
According to the Traffic and Vehicle Management Authority (commonly referred to as "la Mécanique") and data from the research firm Information International, only 289,000 motorcycles were officially registered in Lebanon as of 2022. However, this number is believed to represent just 20% of the actual motorcycles on the road. In both 2023 and ...
Pharmacists Secure Top Retirement Pension Among Liberal Professions
Liliane Mokbel 26/04 14:00 - Reading : less than a minute
Retired pharmacists in Lebanon now receive a monthly pension of $670 – the highest among all liberal professions in the country, according to Joe Salloum, the President of the Lebanese Order of Pharmacists. This milestone was achieved through a series of internal reforms, revised contribution structures, and the creation of a reserve fund in ...
Big Projects, Few Permits: Lebanon’s Construction Slows, but Grows in Scale
Liliane Mokbel 19/04 12:00 - Reading : 1 minute(s)
According to the Order of Engineers of Beirut and North Lebanon, only 417 building permits were issued in January 2025 – a sharp 48.33% drop compared to January 2024. Construction activity has seen a steep decline over the past year. This downturn has affected all governorates: Beirut: Only 2 permits issued, a 93.75% drop ...
Gold Reserves in Lebanon Surge to $2 Billion!
Liliane Mokbel 12/04 12:00 - Reading : 1 minute(s)
lebanon Gold exports imports dollars
The demand for precious metals in Lebanon continues to grow. According to data from the Economic Studies Center of the Beirut and Mount Lebanon Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (CCIAB), imports of precious metals (customs classification) reached $2.572 billion in 2024, marking an increase of $46 million compared to the previous ...
Lebanon Faces Severe Trade Deficit and Economic Imbalance
Liliane Mokbel 05/04 12:00 - Reading : less than a minute
lebanon crisis imports GDP deficit
Lebanon's trade deficit in 2024 reached $14.2 billion, accounting for approximately 50% of the country's GDP. This level, one of the highest in the world, is alarming and reflects the magnitude of the country's economic imbalances. According to statistics from the Higher Council of Customs, imports declined by 3.5%, totaling $16.9 billion, while ...
Lebanon's Solar Energy Market Faces Sharp Decline
Liliane Mokbel 29/03 12:00 - Reading : less than a minute
solar panels lebanon imports energy
The solar energy market in Lebanon experienced a dramatic decline. In 2024, imports of solar panels dropped by 41% compared to 2023 and by 82% compared to 2022, according to data from the Lebanese Customs Authority. A record high was reached in 2022, with 5 million panels imported, while only 2.24 million were imported in 2024, valued at a ...
Beirut Stock Exchange: Trading Volume Drops 80%!
Liliane Mokbel 22/03 12:00 - Reading : less than a minute
stocks lebanon trading banking
The Beirut Stock Exchange (BSE) saw a sharp decline in activity during the week of March 14, with trading volume dropping to 115,916 shares, compared to 570,083 the previous week. The total value of transactions also decreased, falling to $3.44 million from $4.94 million the week before, according to a report by Banque du Crédit ...
New Car Sales in 2024: A 25% Increase, But Still Below Pre-2018 Levels
Liliane Mokbel 08/03 22:05 - Reading : less than a minute
In 2024, a total of 8,226 new cars were sold, representing a 25.05% increase compared to the 6,578 units sold in 2023, according to the International Chamber of Navigation of Beirut. However, despite this growth, the market for new car imports remains significantly below pre-2018 levels. By comparison, 21,991 vehicles were sold in 2019, 33,012 ...
82% of Lebanon's 2024-2025 Budgets Allocated to Public Sector Operational Costs
Liliane Mokbel 01/03 12:00 - Reading : less than a minute
According to Labora, a Lebanese NGO focused on reducing unemployment, 82% of the 2024 Finance Law and the 2025 budget proposal are allocated to cover the public sector's operational costs. This exceeds the World Bank's 30% threshold, beyond which it refuses to finance budgets, as it views such high spending as a risk of public fund mismanagement ...
113 Vacant Senior Positions in Lebanon’s Administration
Liliane Mokbel 22/02 12:00 - Reading : less than a minute
Central Bank of Lebanon Public Administration Positions
113 senior positions within Lebanon's central administration are currently vacant and filled on an interim basis, according to sources close to the Grand Serail. This number is expected to increase by the end of 2025. Among the key positions to be filled are the Governor of the Central Bank (BDL), the Commander-in-Chief of the Army, and the ...
Lebanon’s Fresh Dollar Transactions Surge in 2024, Reaching $302 Million
Liliane Mokbel 15/02 12:00 - Reading : less than a minute
In 2024, the total value of fresh dollar checks cleared amounted to $302 million, according to data from the Association of Banks in Lebanon (ABL) and the research department at Bank Audi. On average, $25.2 million in fresh dollar checks were cleared each month throughout the year. The value of these checks experienced a monthly increase of 17%, ...
Electricity Production Up 36.7% in the First Half of 2024
Liliane Mokbel 08/02 12:00 - Reading : less than a minute
lebanon Banque du Liban electricity
Electricity production increased by 36.7% in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, according to data from the Banque du Liban. It reached 2.239 million kilowatt-hours (kWh), up from 1.638 million kWh during the same period last year. This growth continues the 41.7% increase seen between 2022 and 2023, when total production ...
Government Formation: Berri Blocks Progress
Chelsea Al Arif 06/02 14:45 - Reading : less than a minute
Hezbollah Nawaf Salam Joseph Aoun lebanon
The trilateral meeting between Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam concluded this Thursday afternoon after an hour and a half of discussions. According to MTV, Berri's insistence on appointing a fifth Shiite minister hindered the government formation process. Diplomatic sources ...
Mapping Forces in South Lebanon
Rayan Chami 04/02 19:12 - Reading : less than a minute
Hezbollah Lebanese Army South Lebanon Israel
South Lebanon remains a focal point of tension, with Israeli forces holding positions along the border, Hezbollah active across strategic areas, and the Lebanese Army bolstering its presence. With the ceasefire deadline extended till February 18, the region faces heightened uncertainty, underscoring the fragile security situation and the potential ...
Decrease in Car Imports via the Port of Beirut in 2024
Liliane Mokbel 01/02 12:45 - Reading : less than a minute
Car imports through the port of Beirut have seen a significant -20% drop in the first eleven months of 2024, compared to the same period in 2023. From January to November 2024, a total of 41,135 cars were imported, down from 51,423 during the same period last year, reflecting a slowdown in the automotive import sector.
800,000 Vehicles in Lebanon Without Mandatory Insurance
Liliane Mokbel 25/01 12:00 - Reading : less than a minute
In 2024, out of the 2,000,000 vehicles in Lebanon's automotive fleet, 800,000 are not registered with the Vehicle Registration Department and, as a result, lack mandatory auto liability insurance. This means there is roughly one car for every two residents, in a country where public transportation is virtually non-existent. The mandatory ...
Beirut Souks Sees 62 Stores Open, Falling Short of 2024 Target
Liliane Mokbel 04/01 12:00 - Reading : less than a minute
62 stores are currently open and welcoming customers at the Beirut Souks Shopping Center. Seven of these opened in December 2024, and six more are expected to open in January. However, the total number of open stores is still just under half of the 140 originally planned for the end of 2024 – a target set before the two months of conflict.
Lebanon's Price Surge – 4.9% Rise in Dollars, 5970% in Lebanese Pounds (2019-2024)
Liliane Mokbel 2024-12-28 12:00 - Reading : less than a minute
Banks prices inflation crisis world bank
In Lebanon, prices in dollars rose by 4.9% between September 2019 and September 2024, according to the World Bank. Meanwhile, the Central Directorate of Statistics reports a staggering 5970% increase in prices in Lebanese pounds over the same period.
A New Trend in Lebanon's Population Growth?
Liliane Mokbel 2024-12-21 12:00 - Reading : less than a minute
The Lebanese population is estimated at 5.77 million in 2023, up from 5.74 million in 2022 and 5.72 million in 2021, according to ESCWA. Lebanon's demographic trends reveal a steady growth rate since 1950, when the population stood at 1.35 million. By 2000, the population had reached 4.33 million, and by 2020, it had grown to 5.70 million. The ...
$80 for a Meter of Glass, Driven by Reconstruction Needs
Liliane Mokbel 2024-12-14 12:00 - Reading : less than a minute
Hezbollah Israel damage reconstruction
The price of a meter of glass has surged to $80, up from $30 before the start of the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. This price does not include the cost of labor for installation. Glaziers attribute the increase to a surge in demand, primarily driven by the reconstruction and repair of buildings and structures damaged by Israeli ...
Zero Used Car Sales Since End of September
Liliane Mokbel 2024-11-30 12:00 - Reading : less than a minute
According to Elie Kazzi, the President of the Syndicate of Used Car Importers, losses due to damage to imported vehicles during the war between Israel and Hezbollah are estimated at around $60 million. The sector remains particularly vulnerable, as many Lebanese are reluctant to buy used cars during periods of instability, especially since they ...
Flames of War Devastate 65,000 Olive Trees
Liliane Mokbel 2024-11-23 12:00 - Reading : less than a minute
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) reports that 70% of the Lebanese agricultural sector has been affected, both directly and indirectly. Thousands of hectares have been completely or nearly destroyed, and 65,000 olive trees have been fully burned due to white phosphorus bombings, which are prohibited under ...