Strawberries market in Lebanon

Earlier Report Observations

In 2018, the Lebanese government supported large-scale irrigation projects through loans and grants while taking steps to ban dangerous pesticides, laying a foundation for strawberry production. However, the market was hit in 2019 by the fallout from an economic collapse that started in the autumn, leading to sharp price increases and a drop in fruit purchases among less affluent consumers, which explains the decline in market volume to 2,526 t.

Production rebounded to 2,794 t in 2020. By 2022, climate changes caused the strawberry crop to ripen early, creating a supply surplus and a price crisis on the local market. That same year, the Competition Law No. 281/2022 was enacted to combat monopolies affecting food prices, adding a regulatory shift. The market volume jumped to 3,123 t, driven largely by a spike in imports to 530 t.

In 2023, the market volume returned to 2,783 t while production edged up to 2,695 t, reflecting a return to more typical levels after the previous year's anomalies.

Production strawberries in Lebanon

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of strawberries, 2017-2020

World map of production of strawberries, 2017-2020

After a two-year decline, Lebanon's strawberry production increased in 2020. That year, Lebanon produced 2,794 tonnes of strawberries, marking a significant 13.1% rise from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, production fell by 13.2%, with a compound annual growth rate of -4.6%. The lowest production level was recorded in 2019 at 2,471 tonnes, while the largest annual decline occurred in 2018 at 16.4%.

Annual dynamics of production in Lebanon in kind, 2017-2020, t

Exports strawberries from Lebanon

Exports in kind, t

The data shows irregular changes, pointing to a volatile market environment. Export volumes varied threefold from the low in 2017 to the high in 2018. In 2020, Lebanon exported 9.9 tonnes of strawberries, representing a sharp 44.0% drop from the previous year. The peak export volume was recorded in 2018 at 24.6 tonnes, with the largest annual increase also occurring that year at 196.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Lebanon in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, Saudi Arabia (39.0% of exports in kind), Qatar (34.7%), and the United Arab Emirates (11.8%) were the key export partners for Lebanon, together accounting for 85.5% of total export flows.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Lebanon in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

The data reveals irregular changes, indicating a volatile market environment. The period saw a peak in 2018 and a trough in 2020, with an 11.8-fold swing between these years. In 2020, strawberry exports from Lebanon amounted to 7.2 thousand US dollars, showing a dramatic 76.7% decline from 2019. The maximum value was recorded in 2018 at 85.5 thousand US dollars, with the largest annual increase also occurring that year at 178.4%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Lebanon in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Between 2017 and 2020, Qatar (39.6% of exports in value terms), Saudi Arabia (39.6%), and the United Arab Emirates (13.6%) consistently held the leading positions in Lebanon's export structure by value, jointly accounting for 92.7% of total export flows.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Lebanon in value, 2017-2020

Imports strawberries to Lebanon

Imports in kind, t

Strawberry imports to Lebanon declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, imports reached 2.0 tonnes, reflecting a sharp 97.2% decrease from 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, imports fell by 98.9%, equating to an annualized decline rate of 78.0%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Lebanon in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, Egypt (with 58.9% of total flows) and Syria (40.6%) were the two dominant sources for strawberry imports to Lebanon, together forming 99.5% of total import flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Lebanon in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

The value of strawberry imports to Lebanon declined for the third year in a row. In 2020, imports were recorded at 4.1 thousand US dollars, showing a steep 96.3% fall compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased by 99.4%, equating to an annualized decline rate of 82.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Lebanon in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Over the 2017-2020 period, Egypt and Syria captured most of Lebanon's imports by value, jointly accounting for 99.1% of total import flows.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Lebanon in value, 2017-2020