Lebanon

Coffee remains the most popular hot drinks category due to its cultural importance, although the socioeconomic crisis has led many people to consume less coffee, while many others have shifted to black tea, a much cheaper type of hot drink. Across…

Demand remained under huge pressure across tissue and hygiene in 2023 as negative population growth fuelled by high emigration and low consumer spending due to the ongoing socioeconomic crisis underpinned a generally negative volume sales…

Demand for home care generally remains under pressure due to the falling population of Lebanon, the result of the high rate of emigration, and the reluctance of cash-strapped consumers to spend money on products that are seen as non-essential. Within…

2023 saw pressure on demand for soft drinks ease as the re-dollarisation of the Lebanese pound, rising remittances and buoyant inbound arrivals, spurred by returning expatriates, pushed volume growth. On-trade growth was especially strong as the…

Sales rose across alcoholic drinks in 2022 as demand rebounded during the post-pandemic era. However, the economic crisis continues to suppress demand and local players, especially wineries, are looking to export markets to generate revenues in…

The socioeconomic crisis remained a drag on growth in consumer health in 2023. High inflation, currency depreciation and restricted access to foreign currency are affecting the entire economy. Political instability has made the situation worse as…

Corruption and political instability are impeding economic freedom, whilst the public-debt-to-GDP ratio is one of the highest globally. Although the economy is relatively well diversified, uncertainty could hamper its development and hyperinflation…

With consumer spending still under huge pressure, Lebanon’s snacks brands faced muted demand in 2023, although volume sales did increase in all categories of snacks over the course of the year. Local players remain dominant in most categories,…

The economic crisis continues to impact the Lebanese retailing industry, with negative value growth in constant price terms seen across all categories in 2022. Consumers are spending much less than prior to the onset of the crisis, with demand…

The ongoing economic crisis in 2022 has forced many smokers to abandon imported global cigarette brands as prices have risen steeply, with local brand Cedars the big winner. Low awareness of the harms of smoking means that few smokers have chosen to…

All players in beauty and personal care in Lebanon continued to face huge challenges during 2023 as the Israel-Hamas war piled further pressure on demand at a time when many consumers have already curbed their spending on non-essential items. Thus,…

Staple foods in 2023: The big picture

Demand for cooking ingredients and meals remained under huge pressure in 2023 as the impact of Lebanon’s severe socioeconomic crisis continued to undermine the spending power of much of the local population. However, the situation is improving slowly…

Dairy has remained resilient despite Lebanon’s economic crisis, a reflection of its status as the backbone of Lebanon’s agriculture sector. In some regions, dairy production accounts for 60% of all economic activity and this has spurred international…

The number of households is set to decrease moderately in Lebanon over 2022-2027, with couples with children remaining the dominant household type. In 2022 household spending was affected by inflation, which stood at 171.2% elevating living costs.…

Lebanon’s population is set to experience depopulation overall in 2021-2040, despite some growth after 2034. Strong rates of negative net migration, which will cancel out natural increase for most of timeframe, drive this trend. Ageing will be a key…

This report assesses the business environment in Lebanon, focusing on the regulatory environment, stability of the financial system, FDI intake, labour market flexibility and skillset, trade openness, mobility infrastructure, ICT adoption and…

Insight into income, wealth and expenditure of consumers and households is vital in helping businesses make strategic decisions with regards to which country (or even which region within a country) to enter, which consumer segment to target, which…

The report examines the economic landscape of Lebanon and provides information on major monetary indicators, foreign trade, investments and government finance. The economy in Lebanon grew in real terms in 2022, driven by increasing public and private…