Lebanese agricultural exports stand firm despite the deteriorating regional context

IDAL's report for 2014 highlighted the fact that the AgriPlus programme has maintained its results as the previous year albeit a slight decrease of 5% that was recorded during the last nine months of 2014 compared to 2013.  This slight regression is largely due to the worsening security conditions in the region which resulted in an increase in costs and risks associated with transportation, on one hand, and rising local consumption.  Exports through the programme reached recorded 368.5 thousand tons compared to 386 thousand tons during the first three quarters of 2013.  Exports of potato came first with a figure of 166 thousand tons followed by citrus fruits which reached 70 thousand tons.  Export destinations were Arab countries (aside from Syria and Jordan) which accounted for 75% of total exports and both Syria and Jordan which represented 22%..

Among the new products which were included in the IDAL programme was olive oil, which recorded a 35% increase in exports, totaling 1996 tons during the first three quarters of 2014 compared to 1482 tons during the same period of 2013.  (Source: Al-Diyar, Al-Nahar, 12 January 2015)