New Car Sales in 2024: A 25% Increase, But Still Below Pre-2018 Levels
Liliane Mokbel 08/03 22:04 - 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 ...
Figure of the Week: 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 ...
Figure of the Week: 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%, ...
Figure of the Week: 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 ...
Figure of the Week: Decrease in Car Imports via the Port of Beirut in 2024
Liliane Mokbel 01/02 12:43 - 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.
Figure of the Week: 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 ...
Figure of the Week: 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.
Figure of the Week: 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.
Figure of the Week: 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 ...
Figure of the Week: $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 ...
This Week’s Figure: 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 ...
Figure of the Week: 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 ...