BELIEF, Economic Update, Competition, Competition and Trade

Beirut Port Upgrades Aim to Restore Trade Confidence

13:10 | 30 November 2025LIMS output
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Trade

In November, advanced container scanners were installed at the Port of Beirut in a bid to curb smuggling and ensure compliance with customs duties. A $10 million unit from the CMA CGM Group, capable of detecting deeply concealed items, was expected to become operational in December. According to LIMS, private sector involvement was crucial as previous attempts by the state had stalled, whereas private expertise brought both capital, technical know-how, and incentive often absent in public bodies.

LIMS argued that rigorous monitoring combined with transparent inspection protocols could help restore confidence in Lebanese exports. The loss of access to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) markets following a series of Captagon seizures has already undermined trade, with Gulf authorities pointing to lax port controls while local producers bear the economic fallout. Strengthening trust in inspections could act as a catalyst for renewed trade, investment and broader economic recovery.
 
On the imports side, limited scanning capacity has long facilitated smuggling and customs evasion, draining state revenues and distorting competition as legitimate importers are undercut by a shadow economy. A well-functioning trade system is also vital for Lebanon’s food security, given the country’s heavy reliance on imports and a domestic agricultural sector that remains weak, poorly adapted to irregular rainfall, and dependent on unsustainable public loans.
 
LIMS stresses that scanners must form part of a wider trade reform agenda. Revenue losses arise not only from outdated equipment but also from an inefficient, fragmented tariff structure. Introducing a single, predictable flat rate would close loopholes, ensure parity among importers and stabilise state receipts.
 
In short, Lebanon’s trade revival hinges on three pillars: open and transparent trade, modern inspection technology, and private-sector management in place of entrenched, opaque customs authorities.

  • Customs Evasion Wastes Billions… Will The “Flat Tax” Save Lebanon’s Treasury? November 17, 2025: VDL, Video Interview (AR)
  • Scanners Devices In Beirut Port: Enhancing Trust And Reopening Markets, November 28, 2025: Annahar, Article (AR)
  • More Than One Million Lebanese Suffer From Food Insecurity – What Is The Solution? November 7, 2025: Dubai TV, Video Interview (AR)