Agricultural exports rise

Apples and bananas record 40 percent growth

Agricultural exports increased by 14 percent in 2012, to 454,000 tons, the Investment Development Authority for Lebanon (IDAL) reported. Citrus fruits and potatoes came in first place in terms of amount of exports, each representing around 22 percent of overall exports. Exports of the two commodities have decreased year-on-year due to higher local demand resulting from the Ministry of Agriculture’s restrictions on imports of these products.

The results announced include exports supported by ‘Agri-Plus’, the $34 million program run by the State and managed by the IDAL.

The main export destination was Zone B, which includes Egypt, Libya, Sudan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia,the United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Iraq, and Iran. This zone imported some 330,000 tons, or 73 percent of the overall quantity. Zone A, which comprises Syria and Jordan, imported around 26 percent of local agricultural products.

In 2012, Agri-Plus included olive oil, honey, and seedlings for the first time in its supported exports. Olive oil exports reached 1,132 tons, 22 percent of which were exported to countries in North and South America and Australia (Zone D).

Around 88,000 tons of apples were exported, a 43 percent increase from 2011. The largest two export markets for local apples were Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

Banana exports grew by 41 percent to 60,600 tons. Syria and Jordan were the biggest importers of bananas. Export of grapes, cherries, apricots, prunes, tomatoes, and cucumbers were slightly up.