2006

2007

2008

Macroeconomic Indicators

Gross Domestic Product-GDP (US$ billion)

22.4

25.0

28.9

Real GDP growth rate 

0.6%

7.5%

8.5%

GDP per capita, current prices (US$)

5,517

6,097

6,980

Agriculture, value added (% GDP)

6%

6%

5%

Industry, value added (% GDP)

23%

24%

22%

Services, etc., value added (%GDP)

71%

70%

73%

FDI (% GDP)

10.40%

13.95%

11.10%

Gross Capital Formation (% GDP)

22%

18%

20%

Agriculture

Agricultural exports (US$ million) 

104

134

166

Banks credits to agriculture (variation in US$ million)

-10

22

46

Agricultural exports/total exports  

4.6%

4.8%

4.8%

Industry

Industrial exports (US$ million) 

2,178

2,682

3,312

Banks credits to industry (variation in US$ million)

21

393

741

Industrial exports/Total exports  

95.4%

95.2%

95.2%

Imports of industrial machinery (US$ million) 

130

163

188

Tourism

Number of tourists  

1,062,635

1,017,072

1,332,551

Hotel occupancy rate (general average) 

50%

38%

57%

Total spending in hotels (US$ million) 

69

59

87

Construction

Construction permits (‘000 sqm) 

8,693

9,038

11,772

Value of property transactions (LP billion) 

4,733

6,329

9,770

Number of property transactions 

127,016

154,158

167,054

Banks credits to construction (variation in US$ million)

74

292

265

Cement deliveries (‘000 tons) 

3,423

3,945

4,219

Transport

Beirut Port Activity

Number of ships 

1,832

2,187

2,055

Number of containers 

339,174

444,165

491,300

Merchandise (‘000 tons)  

4,227

5,318

5,700

Beirut Aeroport Activity

Number of planes

32,980

39,052

45,278

Number of passengers (‘000)

2,740

3,441

4,040

Energy

Electricity generated (million Kwh)  

10,214

10,548

11,189

Oil imports (‘000 metric tons) 

4,123

3,560

4,060

Foreign Trade (US$ million)

Imports 

9,398

11,815

16,137

Exports  

2,282

2,816

3,478

Exports to main trade partners

UAE  

7.7%

8.7%

10.0%

Switzerland

19.8%

10.9%

9.5%

Iraq

6.0%

5.3%

7.7%

Syria

7.7%

7.5%

6.4%

Saudi Arabia

6.4%

6.6%

6.0%

Imports from main trade partners

USA

10.8%

9.6%

11.5%

China

8.0%

8.6%

8.6%

France

8.1%

7.5%

8.3%

Italy

7.6%

9.0%

6.9%

Germany

7.0%

6.4%

6.4%

Main exports

Jewelry  

24.3%

17.3%

16.5%

Electrical equipment  

14.6%

16.3%

15.4%

Metals and metal products  

14.1%

17.5%

15.2%

Chemical products  

7.1%

8.3%

12.5%

Food products

8.2%

8.5%

8.1%

Paper and paper products

5.9%

6.2%

5.9%

Main imports

Mineral products  

25.7%

22.8%

26.5%

Vehicles

8.1%

8.4%

10.6%

Electrical equipment

11.9%

12.1%

10.5%

Metals and metal product  

7.3%

8.2%

8.1%

Chemical products  

9.5%

9.3%

8.0%

Food products 

5.7%

6.4%

5.3%

Balance of Payments (US$ million)

Trade Balance

(7,116)

(8,999)

(12,659)

Gross Capital Inflows  

9,911

11,036

16,121

Balance of Payments  

2,795

2,037

3,462

Public Finance (LP billion)

Government expenditures  

11,880

12,587

14,957

Government revenues 

7,316

8,749

10,553

Public finance deficit 

4,564

3,838

4,404

Gross total debt (LP billion) 

60,880

63,364

70,874

Net total debt (LP billion) 

56,436

58,837

62,548

Monetary Situation (LP billion)

M1 (currency + LP demand deposits)

3,322

3,578

4,269

M2 (M1+quasi-money in LP)

23,477

24,831

37,325

M3 (M2+FX deposits) 

80,244

90,197

103,506

M4 (M3+Tbs public)  

84,545

95,810

109,412

Prices and Wages

Average Consumer Price Index (in LP)

4.1%

4.1%

10.7%

Minimum salary (in LP)

300,000

300,000

500,000

Minimum salary (in US$)

199

199

331.7

LP/US$ exchange rate (year end)

1,507.5

1,507.5

1,507.5

LP/US$ exchange rate (yearly average)

1,507.5

1,507.5

1,507.5

Lebanese Stock Market

Market capitalization (US$ million)

9,182

11,977

9,323

Traded volume (US$ million) 

1,927

925

1,659

Number of listed companies 

16

15

13

Number of listed shares (thousands)

962,790

771,179

801,042

Banking System

Number of commercial banks

54

54

53

Number of medium & long term credit banks

9

12

12

Activity highlights (LP billion)

    Total assets

111,964

123,999

142,090

    Total deposits

91,494

101,435

117,252

    Total credits

25,652

30,791

37,629

    Total shareholders’ equity

8,718

9,439

10,810