BEIRUT: Lebanese industrial exports in the first seven months of 2011 jumped by 5.9 percent compared to the same period of last year, the Industry Ministry said in a report Wednesday.

“The new figures released by the ministry refute the claims that Lebanon has no means to be an industrial country,” Industry Minister Vrej Sabounjian announced after the disclosure of the report.

He added that the statistics illustrate the great potential and perseverance of the Lebanese industrial sector, irrespective of the difficulties it encounters.

Total industrial exports up to July of this year reached $2.42 billion compared to $1.929 billion in the same period of last year.

In the first seven months of 2009, the Lebanese industrial exports stood at $1.494 billion, according to the report.

Total value of exported industrial machines and equipment up to July of this year reached $141.1 million compared to $135.5 million in the same period of 2010 and $120 million in the same period of 2009.

In the month of July alone, industrial exports reached $332.9 million compared to $270 million in the same month of last year and $196 million in the month of July of 2009.

The report stressed that as usual, precious stones and jewelry ranked first in Lebanese industrial exports.

It added that the total value of exported precious stones in the month of July alone stood at $98.9 million with the biggest share of these exports going to South Africa, followed by Turkey and Saudi Arabia.

July exports of regular metal rose from $31 million in July 2010 to $$57.4 million in July 2011.

Turkey, Greece and China were the main importers of the regular metal from Lebanon.

However, the report showed that the exports of Lebanese electronic appliances and other related products fell from $72 million in July 2010 to $47.3 million in the same month of 2011.

It added that the Arab countries which normally buy the Lebanese electronic equipment reduced their consumption from Lebanon.

The report also disclosed that the Arab markets were the main recipients of Lebanese industrial machinery, followed by Europe and Africa.

Lebanon’s industrial sector represents 19.1 percent of the country’s GDP but manufacturers complain that successive governments have failed to pay attention to this sector although it has the ability to create thousands of jobs.

Industrialists are demanding that the government reduce the cost of production, lower the prices of fuel oil and offer more tax incentives to industrial plants.