Distributing a product

Evolution of the sector

The main actor on the Lebanese market is the importer who plays the role of an agent and benefits from a network of retailers. He is in charge of marketing, concluding sales contracts, etc. The wholesale trade is carried out by the biggest Lebanese importers. Breaking into the Lebanese market with the help of a local agent is strongly recommended. The commercial representation contract is governed by decree n° 34 dated 5 August 1967. In additon, commerce on Internet is beginning to develop in Lebanon. There are already services of on-line stores, auctions...  but they are limited by the fact that there is not yet any appropriate legislation to protect transactions. In 2004 the European Union set up a project with Lebanon to develop e-commerce; the initiative is called ecomleb.org. But the population does not trust this type of transaction yet and as telecommunications costs are high, e-commerce remains limited but can potentially grow in the next few years. Franchising is one of the Lebanese economic sectors with the highest growth. All the big international names are present in the country. In the catering field there are KFC, Pizza Hut, Starbucks, Hard rock café..., in the field of clothing there are Zara, Massimo Dutti..., and in other fields we find: Hertz, New Horizons.... Since 2007, a Lebanese Franchise Association has been created to help franchises in the country to develop in the region.

Market shares

Concerning inside trade, modern distribution networks become more and more common. Super and hypermarkets, malls and similars represent 30-35%of the currant cosumption. There are about 90 hypermarkets with regional and international names such as Monoprix, Casino Geant, Spinneys, BHV. Added to to that there about 300 small businesses and thousands of grocer's.

Organizations in the retail sector

The American agency for trade promotion's document about Lebanon.

We can identify professional tradeshows on your sector.

Market access procedures

International Conventions

Party to the Kyoto protocol
Party to the Basel convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their disposal
Party to the Montreal protocol on Substances that deplete the Ozone Layer

Main International economic cooperation

Lebanon is a country traditionally open to trade. Its efforts are concentrated, from this point of view, on three areas: the European Union, the United States and the other Arab countries. It has signed a framework agreement with the United States to favor trade and investment between the two countries. It has been trying for many years to join the World Trade Organization and since 1999 has had observer status. Its relations with the European Union are privileged; there is an association agreement between the two entities, also called Euro-Mediterranean partnership, which provides especially for the creation of a free trade area between Lebanon (as part of the agreement) and the European Union by 2014. Lebanon is also part of the Greater Arab Free Trade Area (GAFTA), a pact of the Arab League entered into force in January 2005 which aims to form an Arabic free trade area. It has signed numerous bilateral free trade agreements with Syria, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Iraq notably.

Non tariff barriers

Less than 1% of imported products are subject to trade restrictions (license, technical, medical or phytosanitary certificates...) which can be similar to non tariff barriers. Importing some products, like arms for example, is forbidden in Lebanon even if they are only in transit. All these restrictions can be consulted on the website of the Lebanese Customs. In addition, Lebanon applies the boycott decided by the Arab League against Israeli products and some foreign companies may be blacklisted if they are thought to be helping the military development of that country. However, the boycott is relative since a considerable number of prohibited products can be found on the Lebanese market today.

Customs duties and taxes on imports

Customs duties vary depending on the nature of goods and their origin. Surcharges may be applied on certain products such as textiles, alcoholic beverages, motor vehicles etc.. These tariffs are set by the Lebanese customs.

Customs classification

The Customs system is the Harmonized System of Brussels.

Import procedures

Any customs declaration must include the following documents
- an original invoice
- a detailed item/product list if the bill does not include details
- a copy of the bill of lading or other document replacing it;
- The certificate of origin in accordance with customs regulations or bilateral or collective agreements signed with Lebanon
- any other document required by law and regulations (proof of payment etc ...).

For more information on the other documents or the procedures required by the other authorities such as the measures of prohibition, the import license, the certificates and all other conditions, it is necessary to refer to the "Restrictions and Prohibitions-Circular 1" accessible on the website of the Lebanese customs and from the offices customs.

Importing samples

Samples with no commercial value are exempt from Customs duty.

For further information

Lebanese Customs

We can indicate you which are the customs duties applied to your product.

Find out the local taxes that apply to your product.

Organizing goods transport

Main useful means of transport

The means of goods transport in Lebanon are diversified.

Ground transport: Lebanon is endowed with 2 international freeways, one following the coast from north to south and the second eastward, "the Arabic freeway". There is also an archaic railroad line which was severely damaged by the civil war, the reconstruction of which would be difficult because of the violations of private property on this line.

Sea transport: there are several ports. Currently among them, the two mostly operated are the port of Beirut and the port of Tripoli

Air transport: Beirut International Airport was reconstructed during the 90's, with a capacity of 6 million passengers and is the only international airport in the country. The Trans-Mediterranean Airways - TMA based at Beirut airport is the only one authorized in the transport of cargoes.

Ports

Port of Tripoli (website available in Arabic only).
Port of Beirut website.

Airports

Beirut airport website

Sea transport organizations

Beirut Port Authority

Air transport organizations

Lebanese Civil Aviation website.

Road transport organizations

The website of the Ministry of Works and Transport is unavailable.

Rail transport organizations

Get a ballpark figure for transportation costs for your product in this country through a shipping estimate.

Identifying a supplier

Type of production

The Lebanese industry is one of the most important sector for the economy of the country because it is a source of employment. The main challenge will be to maintain high employment level while maintaining the competitive operator in an unfavourable economic situation. This sector is less diversified than other ten sub-sectors which compose it and with which we are the most common:

- Plastic Industry: The main companies produce containers, tubes, household items or promotional material . Some of them are very competitive and have set up subsidiaries abroad;
-Textile Industry: mainly represented by spinning, tisserant and prêt à porter industries. This activity is very export oriented and more than 50% of production is sold abroad
- Furnishing Industry: thanks to sustained domestic demand, the major companies have set up modern production units and are now internationalising their market;
- Paper industry: this sector has also invested a great quantity in modernising production tools;
- Marble industry: due to a state-of-the-art equipment, this industry grew with the domestic demand engendered by the reconstruction. It exports now to the Gulf and to Europe;
- Cement industry: it was the main industrial production after the war. It decreased henceforth considering the realisation already operated for the main projects of infrastructure.

The biggest companies, employing more than 50 persons, represent less than 1 % of the total number of industries in the country. Furthermore, the Lebanese industry is mainly detained by families and thus very fragmented. One of the major challenge in this sector will be to improve the quality of the production. Indeed, the regional competition is strong, in particular after the opening of certain bordering countries such as Syria and Jordan. Simultaneously, the production costs of Lebanese products are high and make them uncompetitive in the export. High costs are due to the workforce education level, often high, the cost of social security contribution and energy costs.

Business directories

Lebanese business website.
Lebweb
Lebanesemal

Manufacturers associations of the main industries

Association of Lebanese industrialists

Trade Agencies and their representations abroad

Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Lebanon
American Chamber of Commerce in Lebanon

Enterprises federation

Directory listing the main associations of companies in Lebanon.

Standards

National standards organizations

Lebanese Standards Institution

Integration in the international standards network

Standards are defined by the Lebanese Standards Institution Libnor. This institute is a member of the International Organization for Standardization ISO.

Classification of standards

Standards are presented in the following way: LN then EN if it is a national standard, if it is an ISO standard then ISO is written, then the number corresponding to the product's field, then the year of its adoption.

Online consultation of standards

They are accessible on the Libnor website but the article is under construction.

Certification organizations

Libnor

Find out the standards and labelling requirements that apply to your products.

Intellectual Property

National organizations

At the national level, the National Office for the protection of intellectual property operates.

Regional organizations

There is no regional organization for the protection of intellectual property.

International membership

Member of the WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization)
Signatory to the Paris Convention for the Protection of Intellectual Property