BEIRUT: Industrial exports in the first half of 2011 reached $1.709 billion, compared to $1.659 billion during the same period in 2010, recording an increase of 3 percent, the Industry Ministry said in a report Thursday.

“Exports of pearls and precious stones [excluding gold] ranked first in the list of Lebanese industrial exports, amounting to $377.6 million in the first half of 2011, with South Africa being the top importer of these products,” said the report.

Exports of pearls were followed by the exports of regular metals at $308.7 million, electrical equipment at $273.4 million, food products at $181.5 million and chemical products at $173.9 million.

“The exports of the products previously mentioned totaled $1.315.1 billion in the first half of 2011, equivalent to 76.9 percent of total exports, compared to $1.267 billion in the first half of 2010 which is equivalent to 76.4 percent of total exports,” added the report.

The report also gave a detailed overview about the exports that have increased in volume and those that have recorded a drop in the year 2011.

It said that the exports of regular metals increased from $239 million in the first half of 2010 to $308.7 million in the first half of 2011 with Turkey, Japan, China and Holland being the main importers of these products.

Moreover, chemical products exports increased from $143 million in the first half of 2010 to $173.9 million in the first half of 2011.

“The export of these products to Iran and Syrian dropped while they have increased to Bangladesh, Spain, Iraq, the UAE, Jordan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia,” it said.

It said that the export of food products went up from $160 million in the first half of 2010 to $181.5 million in the first half of 2011 with Saudi Arabia, Syria, Jordan, U.S., Angola and Kuwait being the main importers.

“The export of food products to UAE went down,” it added.

Meanwhile, the export of textiles went up from $50 million in the first half of 2010 to $68.8 million in the first half of 2011.

On the other hand, the total volume of industrial imports reached $123.1 million in the first half of 2011 compared to $113.1 million in the same period of 2010, which is equivalent to an increase of 8.8 percent according to the industry ministry’s report.