BEIRUT: The balance of trade deficit in Lebanon continued to widen up to January 2011 despite attempts by industrialists and farmers to increase exports to Arab states and Europe.

According to statistics issued by the Customs Department, imports in the month of January alone jumped by 39 percent to $1.729 billion compared to the same month of 2010 while exports fell by 5 percent to $297 million.

Imports in 2010 reached $17.964 billion compared to $4.253 billion in exports and this caused the balance of trade deficit to stand at $13.697 billion, one of the highest in Lebanon’s history. The government collects high revenues from tariffs on imports.

Industrialists complain that the high cost of production and the unfair competition from other states that subsidize their locally made goods makes it very difficult for them to increase exports to other markets.