Exports dropped by 28 percent to $1.6 billion, the Higher Customs Council reported.

The overall trade deficit  -- imports minus exports  -- for the first six months of the year reached $8.7 billion. At this rate, the trade deficit will meet 2013’s deficit which reached $17.3 billion, which was slightly higher than 2012’s deficit of $16.8 billion in 2012.

Also in the  number of containers reached 32,302 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), a drop of 14 percent according to Maroun Abi Aad, Head of Statistics at the Port of Beirut.

The largest drop was registered by mineral products, at 89 percent, as the Syrian conflict has affected imports by that country of such mineral products as phosphate rock used for the production and export of phosphoric acid and related items. Also, the bulk of 1.5 million tons of cement exports that traditionally go to Syria and Iraq have fallen as well due to security reasons.

Vegetable exports decreased 25 percent, with an increase of 102 percent for arms and ammunition. “There is increased local consumption of vegetable and animal products due to increased population resulting from the refugee crisis, creating more imports and less exports of these products,” said Charbel Asmar, Operation Manager for Sea and Air freight at Gezairi Transport.

But despite that, prepared foodstuffs such as beverages, spirits and vinegar still managed a 17 percent increase finding appetite in markets where exports are increasing such as France 49 percent, Spain 16 percent or Bahrain 36 percent. Asmar said the arms and ammunition exports are most likely part of UNIFIL’s special Customs-free service allowing them to return or exchange military equipment.  There was a 18 percent increase in paper and paperboard  products exports.

Imports reached $10.3 billion in June 2014, a drop of 4.7 percent. Transport equipment fell by 18 percent while machinery and mechanical appliances recorded a drop of 12 percent. Vegetable and animal products rose by 16 percent. “The value of imports may have dropped but the number of TEUs was about the same at 185,000 for these periods,” said Abi Aad.

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