Wheat and meslin market in Lebanon

Earlier Report Observations

The wheat and meslin market in Lebanon experienced substantial shifts from 2018 to 2024. Market volume began at 634 thousand tons in 2018 and held steady through 2019 before rising sharply to 777 thousand tons in 2020. This growth occurred alongside the loss of the country's strategic wheat storage facilities, which transferred inventory control to private flour millers and increased dependence on continuous imports to maintain supply.

Market volume expanded further to 896 thousand tons in 2021, supported by high import levels. The situation reversed in 2022 when the war in Ukraine delayed wheat shipments to Lebanon, reducing strategic reserves to approximately one month and triggering emergency government measures, including flour rationing. These supply disruptions contributed to a drop in imports and pulled the overall market volume down to 692 thousand tons that year.

The contraction continued into 2023, with the market decreasing to 603 thousand tons. By 2024, reported wheat stocks were sufficient for only two months, reflecting persistent pressures from global price increases and currency depreciation, which led to adjustments in official maximum flour prices and the bread tariff following the end of consumer subsidies.

Production wheat and meslin in Lebanon

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of wheat and meslin, 2017-2020

World map of production of wheat and meslin, 2017-2020

Lebanon produced 147.5 thousand tons of wheat and meslin in 2020, representing a 43.7% year-over-year increase. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 17.3%, which translates to an annualized growth rate of 5.5%. The lowest production level was recorded in 2019 at 102.7 thousand tons, marking a significant decline of 22.2% that year.

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

In value, 2017-2020, K $ US

In 2020, the output value of wheat and meslin in Lebanon reached 39 183 thousand US dollars, showing a substantial increase of 51.0% compared to the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, production value rose by 37.9%, equivalent to an annualized growth rate of 11.3%. The minimum value was observed in 2019 at 25 956 thousand US dollars, with the largest decline of 14.0% occurring that year.

Annual dynamics of production in Lebanon in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Exports wheat and meslin from Lebanon

Exports in kind, K t

Export volumes of wheat and meslin from Lebanon showed notable fluctuations during this period. The maximum volume was recorded in 2019 at 7.0 thousand tons, while the minimum dropped to 0.8 thousand tons in 2020, representing a 9.1-fold difference between these years. In 2020, exports decreased dramatically by 89.1% compared to the previous year. The largest increase occurred in 2018, with a growth of 130.5%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, Lebanon's exports of wheat and meslin in kind were heavily concentrated on Jordan, which accounted for 97.0% of total exports.

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, M $ US

The export value of wheat and meslin from Lebanon followed an unstable trend throughout this timeframe. The highest value was recorded in 2019 at 1.8 million US dollars, while the lowest occurred in 2020 at 0.2 million US dollars, showing an 8.7-fold difference between these years. In 2020, export value decreased by 88.5% year-over-year. The largest increase was observed in 2018, with growth of 133.5%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Jordan was overwhelmingly dominant in Lebanon's wheat and meslin exports in value terms, accounting for 96.3% of total exports.

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

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

Imports wheat and meslin to Lebanon

Imports in kind, K t

Lebanon's imports of wheat and meslin in kind increased for the second consecutive year in 2020, reaching 630.5 thousand tons, which represents a significant rise of 17.8% from 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports grew by 17.5%, equating to an annualized growth rate of 5.5%. The minimum volume was recorded in 2018 at 508.3 thousand tons, with the largest decline of 5.3% occurring that year.

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

During 2017–2020, Lebanon's imports of wheat and meslin in kind were primarily sourced from Ukraine and Russia, which together accounted for 90.9% of total imports, while other countries played a secondary role.

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, M $ US

After two years of decline, Lebanon's imports of wheat and meslin in value terms increased in 2020, reaching 148.5 million US dollars, marking a strong advance of 20.5% compared to the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, import value rose by 13.6%, equivalent to an annualized growth rate of 4.3%. The minimum value was recorded in 2019 at 123.2 million US dollars, with the largest decline of 5.7% occurring that year.

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

Throughout 2017–2020, Ukraine and Russia clearly dominated Lebanon's imports of wheat and meslin in value terms, jointly accounting for 90.5% of total imports, while other countries held much smaller shares.

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

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