BEIRUT: Total revenues at Customs offices remained almost flat during 2012, slightly decreasing by 0.66 percent to reach $3.01 billion compared to $3.03 billion collected last year.

Customs fee revenues totaled $1.56 billion, a 3.25 percent increase from a year earlier. Meanwhile, VAT receipts fell 3.95 percent year-on-year to $1.45 billion, according to the data released by the Lebanese Customs.

In December alone, Beirut Port collected $201.8 million in revenues, representing 84 percent of Customs offices’ total revenues.

Rafik Hariri International Airport revenues reached $21.9 million in December 2012, accounting for 9 percent of total receipts, while Tripoli sea port collected $8.06 million of revenues.

The insecure channels of transit through Syria highly impacted land shipping as Masnaa witnessed a 43 percent drop in revenues to $6.3 million, Abbudieh fell 83 percent to $0.18 million, while Arida lost 88 percent to $0.01 million.